Warning: very exciting story to follow

I killed two spiders in my shower today within 5 minutes of each other. Just so you know.

Today was interesting. I nearly got hit by a car. Not just bumped, whoops-pulling-out-and-didn't-see-you-there hit. I mean honest to goodness, smear-on-the-asphalt creamed.

I was out for a run, and about three quarters of a mile into my usual route, there's an intersection of two busy roads in Provo: Center Street and 900 East. So I was waiting patiently (albeit a little distractedly) for my turn to cross. I was on the southwest corner of the intersection, just so you have an image in your mind. When it came time for me to cross, I glanced back over my shoulder to make sure of any turn-lane cars that might be there. But at seeing none, I went ahead and ran out into the street. Not five strides into it, I glimpsed in my peripheral vision a car at my left coming right for me. It was the kind of situation where you really don't have much time to react. I had enough time to see the car, and promptly swear under my breath. There wasn't even enough time for an adrenaline shot to help me speed up, much less jump out of the way. Right at the last second, the guy--who had totally destroyed that red light--swerved out of the way and narrowly missed me. So of course I did the only sensible thing to do. Still running, I turned around, threw up my arms, and yelled at him (swearing again... hope Mom isn't reading this) as he drove by, making a nice scene in the middle of the intersection. I was pretty livid. But then a little ways down 9th, it finally dawned on me that I had narrowly missed being killed by a distracted driver who streaked through a very red light at full speed. If he hadn't woken up at the last second, I probably would have died, as fast as he was going and not paying attention at all. So with this realization, I can tell you that crying and hyperventilating are hard things to do (and bring with them quite a bit of nausea) while you're running. Needless to say, I turned off my music and said a very, very grateful prayer in my head.

Heavenly Father took care of me, and I am extremely grateful. I don't want to think about what would have happened if that driver hadn't snapped to, I'm sure at Heavenly Father's prompting. I'm so grateful for His watchful care.

And I definitely won't take red lights for granted any more.