Smoky car

One day when I was 27 years old, I purchased my first car. It was a black Impala in 2005. I had only had my license for a month, so I was an inexperienced driver. Many people would come out of their houses when I parked, worried that I would hit their cars with my brand new vehicle.

One day, I was traveling with my three children. I have never been good with directions, and we did not have the technology back then that we have today. Somehow I found myself approaching the expressway. I was so nervous that I could barely drive on regular streets, let alone the expressway. But I had to be brave and do it.

I zoomed onto the highway as fast as I could with all the other fast-moving cars. There were cars behind me honking, and I had nowhere else to go. I could not turn around, so I just went for it! Before I knew it, I was driving on the highway among so many fast cars.

The kids were scared and making noise. I yelled at them loudly to be quiet, and they all shut up. As I drove, I tried to figure out how to get off the highway. I looked for the exit sign, but had to get over lanes first. I put on my turn signal to switch lanes.

Suddenly, my car filled up with cigarette smoke. I did not know about blind spots back then because I was still learning to drive. When I smelled the smoke, it caused me to hesitate in my lane for a few extra seconds. During that pause, a car zoomed by me so fast that if I had switched lanes, it would have been a terrible accident.

Eventually I found the exit and started to feel more comfortable driving after that experience. I realized if I could make it off the highway, I would continue to improve! From that day on, whenever I'm in danger in my car, it fills up with cigarette smoke.

Recently during a weekend trip by myself, my GPS took me far outside my destination. I never found the store because I got lost driving literally around mountain cliffs in the dark. My eyesight is very bad at night and I was alone, so I started hysterically crying for help. But then my car filled up with cigarette smoke and I somehow found my way back to the hotel even though my phone was dead.

Who is it that saves my life over and over? I have witnesses - my children have been amazed on different occasions when they smelled it too. I told them someone is here to help us make it home safely.

Just a week ago, it happened again with my daughter in the car. She said, "Mom, you have the most amazing things happen to you!" I think it's a family member, but I'm not sure who it is.🤔