#1
Posted: 3/29/05 at 11:33am
I have a bit of schadenfreude for you. Just my luck.
The other day, it was pouring outside. For my last class, I would have to walk across campus and back, something I had already done twice. So, I figured I'd just skip. It wasn't worth catching a cold. I'm on my way home, on the highway, when all of a sudden the car in front of me swerves into the other lane to avoid something in the road. I immediately look to my right, but there is a row of traffic, so I can't move over. Whatever it is, I am going to have to hit it. Next thing I know, I am on the median, leaning to one side. I get out of my minivan (yes, I drive a minivan. Well, drove...), and see the front drivers side tire is destroyed. There is red liquid leaking from the front. I look back at the road, and discover I hit fire hoses. FIRE HOSES. Were there any fire trucks around? No. Obviously, I'm very angry at this point.
After making a few calls, I take a step back and re-evaluate the situation. To avoid the rain, I skip class to go home early. Now, I'm sitting on the side of the highway, tire destroyed and my van bleeding in the rain. The traffic is all avoiding the hoses, and there is one other car ahead off the road, but he's already changing his tire. So, no injuries. To top it all off, its pouring outside. Then, all of a sudden, a song came to mind: "Schadenfreude". This is a very funny situation. How many people can say they got into a car accident with a fire hose, causing a highway backup that was about a couple of miles by the time the tow truck got there? So, I started laughing. I can't tell you how many odd looks I got from drivers passing me.
So, if you are having a bad day, look at it from the other side. It very well could change the outlook of the situation.
The other day, it was pouring outside. For my last class, I would have to walk across campus and back, something I had already done twice. So, I figured I'd just skip. It wasn't worth catching a cold. I'm on my way home, on the highway, when all of a sudden the car in front of me swerves into the other lane to avoid something in the road. I immediately look to my right, but there is a row of traffic, so I can't move over. Whatever it is, I am going to have to hit it. Next thing I know, I am on the median, leaning to one side. I get out of my minivan (yes, I drive a minivan. Well, drove...), and see the front drivers side tire is destroyed. There is red liquid leaking from the front. I look back at the road, and discover I hit fire hoses. FIRE HOSES. Were there any fire trucks around? No. Obviously, I'm very angry at this point.
After making a few calls, I take a step back and re-evaluate the situation. To avoid the rain, I skip class to go home early. Now, I'm sitting on the side of the highway, tire destroyed and my van bleeding in the rain. The traffic is all avoiding the hoses, and there is one other car ahead off the road, but he's already changing his tire. So, no injuries. To top it all off, its pouring outside. Then, all of a sudden, a song came to mind: "Schadenfreude". This is a very funny situation. How many people can say they got into a car accident with a fire hose, causing a highway backup that was about a couple of miles by the time the tow truck got there? So, I started laughing. I can't tell you how many odd looks I got from drivers passing me.
So, if you are having a bad day, look at it from the other side. It very well could change the outlook of the situation.
