Date: 2013-05-18
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0

Last night was awesome. There was a 15 ft fire pit and bonfire, a drum circle, dancing, music. Just a great night. And tonight is supposed to be better. Went to town to really check out the vendors. Many of them do raffles and gear giveaways. Next year I've got to get my ducks in a row and get on it. I ran back to tent city to change into shorts before the parade at 2. When I got back who did I run into you but Tie Dye and Jolly! It was so good to see them. Not long after that I ran into Blue and St. Croix. I feel like our little family was almost back together. I miss those guys like hell. A little before 2 we all went and gathered in the Mojoe's/Subway parking lot. I thought the hikers were organized by year but there was a 2009 banner followed by 2003 so everyone was kind of everywhere. I found a Chin and we walked with Powder Puff, Mini Pearl, and Heartburns. There's a traditional water fight and it's the locals vs the hikers. chin and I were over on the right side of the street and I suggested we move over towards the center as to avoid getting wet. A few minutes later as we crossed the bridge there were screams and this deep thumping noise. I looked to my right and there was a car right there, driving through the crowd. A man in white went up and over the car and fell off the side hitting a parked car on the way down. Another woman went over the hood and landed on the pavement between cars. It was so close I jumped backwards. It went another 50 ft and came to a stop. I stood there for a moment stunned, trying to process what had just happened. I looked at the man and woman on the ground and they were already surrounded by people. We were lucky that ambulances were at the back of the parade. I thought, they have to be able to get to the injured. I turned and started yelling for people to back up and get off the bridge. Many were still stunned, and still standing there. As I tried to make space I saw people roll the car backwards and surround it on every side. They lifted the car off the ground. I thought, oh my god someone is under the car. At that point the police showed up and started telling everyone to get off the bridge so I went over to the sidewalk. I saw Chinmusic a few people down and Tie Dye I was right next to me so I gave her a hug. She was on the phone with Jolly and told him I was okay. As I watched the scene in front of me it hit me and I started to go into shock. My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. I started to hyperventilate and my arms when tingly. I felt like I was going to pass out. I knew what was happening because I've been in more first aid classes than I can count and trained how to treat people in shock. I kept telling myself, don't freak out, don't freak out. Calm down. It's okay. It's over. Everyone was busy dealing with people who had real injuries and I didn't want to need medical attention if I passed out. Tie Dye huged me again and I broke down and started crying. I borrowed her phone and called my mom because I knew she'd see the story on the news and be worried. She must have been confused because I called from someone else's number crying saying "I'm okay. I'm okay. There's been an accident but I'm fine. I gotta go-bye." Suddenly I had to know that everyone was accounted for. Was everyone I know okay?I started doing laps around the town down one side of the street, to the park, and back up the other side of the street. I must have hugged 100 people. Every familiar face I saw got a hug. What an emotionally draining day, to go from shocked to devastated to worried to happy every time I saw another friend who wasn't hurt. Helicopters came in. Later I heard 4 people were air lifted out and 4 went to the hospital in ambulances. The girl Rainbow Bright who had been dragged under the car walked away with a little road rash and a broken baby toe. Talk about guardian angels. We received news that everyone survived, and that the man driving the car was having some sort of medical issue. Spent the rest of the day back at tent city. This evening a woman intervied Chinmusic and I about our experience. I think it's going to be a good night with everyone celebrating that this bad situation didn't turn out a whole lot worse. I'm certainly incredibly thankful to be alive and unharmed.