She did have one more major ‘panic attack’ as we sped up a steep inclined hill and entered another thick cloudbank. Seeing the rapidly approaching cloudbank as we climbed the hill, she shrieked and sort of thrashed around a bit in the passenger’s seat, then abruptly settled-down again.

–Poor Jennifer was reliving the nightmare yet again.

At some calmer point I recall her looking over at me, smiling weakly and saying something to the effect of “…you’re such a nice person, -thank you”.

We arrived at the hospital and I parked by Emergency, I rushed in and found ready help. A Wellsville City Police Officer was in there too, having coffee and visiting the hospital staff. This was good; he could begin whatever process was needed now to contact family members, retrieve her car, etc. I was dismissed but remained at the hospital for maybe an hour. The nurses did let me see Jennifer before I left to go home. Now cleaned up, drinking a cup of super-sugared coffee (they explained that she needed carbohydrates and sugar was the fastest way to get them into her.), she looked much better.

She told me that her purse, overcoat and everything was still in the car and that is where her hospital insurance information was, and that the Police Officer was going to make sure it got back to her. We visited for a few minutes before the nurses asked me to leave and let Jennifer sleep now. She thanked me again and the nurses walked me out.

Me on the morning of the rescue.

Upon getting back to my home village, I was too pumped to just go home and sleep. I did have my camera with me and on a silly desire to note this occasion; I walked over to the nearby waterfalls and took a photograph of myself reflecting upon the morning’s events. I always thought that someday I might ‘blog’ this (even though the word and act of “blogging” didn’t exist yet.)

You can see the raging floodwater going over the falls, and the now-thinning fog in the distance. The sun was starting to come up. The day was vastly improving.

I walked over to the nearby restaurant, which just opened, and had an early morning breakfast. The Postal workers from across the street were in there, getting their morning coffee and the inquired why I was up so early. They knew my work schedule. I quickly told them the story and they said, “…that was you!?” Apparently, they had been listening to the Police Dispatch Radio and were following the story, as the Wellsville Police would have had to contact the Almond, NY P.D. to notify them. So great, -now they knew.

I would soon go home to sleep most of the day away. It was going to be a truly great day for Jennifer’s mother and father because someone saved their adult child’s life and delivered her to safety. A great day indeed even though I did not go anywhere. I just stayed at home and slept most of the weekend.

I wonder about Jennifer, where she is now, what she’s done with her life. I hope she is living a truly blessed life, is happy, and remembers me. I still do think of and wonder about her.