They say bad things come in 3's.  I think they're right.
 
This has probably been the most eventful summer in the Anne Cutler record books and NOT for the best reasons.  It all started toward the end of May, as I found myself right in the middle of a 4 car pile-up on the Golden Gate bridge.  Who knew it cost more than $5,000 to fix a couple bumpers??  Jeez!  After about 3 weeks in a rental car, I finally got my baby back.  Fast forward a couple more weeks and it's the 4th of July.  I'm spending the holiday in San Diego with my very best friends from college.  When I left for the trip, I had two good feet.  When I returned: only one.  If you want to read up on the broken foot, feel free to check out my "Happy Losing-My-Independence Day" blog.  To sum things up, I have a displaced fracture on my 5th metatarsal and a giant black boot cast to prove it.
 
One day, shortly after it happened, I was hobbling out of the radio station with my crutches and cast.  A homeless man saw me struggling and asked what happened.  I quickly explained the story and he had the most unexpected response.  He looked at me and said, "It could be worse.  You could have been HIT BY A TRAIN."  The bizarre answer stuck with me.  Little did I know, the strange prophesy would practically come true.  I don't know if you've ever been hit by a semi, but I can imagine it feels a whole lot like getting hit by a train.

July 24th, 2008 became the day I came pretty darn close to getting killed.  I was approaching an intersection on my way to work and since the light was green, I cruised right through.  Just as I crossed into the actual intersection, out of nowhere, a semi slammed into the right side of my Explorer with a force that I can't even begin to describe.  Apparently he was trying to make an illegal left turn from the right lane, and had no idea that my car was in between him and where he wanted to go.  After screeching, skidding and two 360's, I landed on top of the median about 300 feet away.  I can't say that my life flashed before my eyes, but I can say,  as my SUV was doing donuts down the street, I didn't expect to survive.
 
As I tried to control the uncontrollable shaking and hysterical crying, EVERYONE came to my aid.  Witnesses rushed to my car.  Coincidentally, Danita happened to drive right by and stopped.  She stayed with me the entire time, even driving me home.  Our photographer Tom also rushed to the scene.  My news director and crew scrambled to cover the morning show.  Auburn woke up in the middle of the night and rushed in to anchor.  Seconds after I called my parents from the ER, my mom was on her way up from Sacramento to come help.  That help continued to pour in.  Friends and family have comforted and consoled me every step of the way.  It's a huge reminder that I have wonderful people in my life and aside from some aches and pains (and a totalled car) the whole situation could be so much worse.
 
Now that I'm spending the rest of the summer without a car... or a foot... I have even more reason to get out of bed every day and count my blessings.  As my friends and family come up with ever more creative nicknames, like "Lucky the 3 legged 1 eyed dog"... "Typhoid Mary"... "Hop-a-long"... and "Chief Broke Foot"... I'm reminded of the most important lesson I've ever learned: Be THANKFUL for everything and ALWAYS expect the unexpected.