It started with a wall of cars. Thick, black smoke drifted up. Then, we joined the wall of cars in the biggest parking lot in the world (except perhaps for LA during rush hour). What had started as a drive to Institute turned into random, connective hour.
Melanie and I started early to Institute and ran smack dab into a HUGE eighteen-wheeler-semi accident. Don't worry, we weren't actually in the accident, we were just trapped by it. It shut down the entire highway, both ways. People got out of their cars and walked up and down the highway chatting. Melanie spoke with a french au pair in the minivan next to our car. I watched everyone from inside the car, listening to the radio to find out what had happened. Lights flashed up the highway from us, and we could see the semi across the highway (as in it was across the median into the oncoming traffic lanes).
It was interesting that people who wouldn't talk to each other anywhere else, were helping each other. A few men helped a woman navigate her jeep off the highway, through a break in the fence, onto a side road. Others attempted to get as close as possible to the accident for a better view. (I of course was nestled in the car, still hoping that the whole thing wouldn't blow.) I almost felt guilty for not getting caught up in the carnival-like atmosphere. Almost.
After an hour, the DOT and police vehicles were in place, and we all turned around finally escaped.
Yeah, so that was my night. How was yours?
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