Monday, March 15, 2010

My Husband: A Hero On His 34th Birthday

Beware the Ides of March! Today is my husband's 34th birthday and let me just say, we had quite a night. We decided to take the whole family to Bricktown (downtown OKC for those of you readers who are not local). After eating at one of Mike's favorite restaurants, we jumped on the interstate to head back home. Shortly thereafter a woman driving a small sedan swerved into our lane. We also swerved, thankful that she did not hit us, but as we watched her pass our vehicle, she continued to swerve back and forth into various lanes of traffic.

"I think she's drunk," Mike stated calmly. We followed her for a few moments letting that thought sink in. But when she made a wild swerve off the road missing a cement wall by mere inches, Mike snapped into action and said, "Call 911." Mike ended up talking to a 911 dispatcher while we followed the inebriated woman for several miles. She was swerving constantly and driving very erratically. At one point we followed her off of the interstate and watched her drive her car up over a curb, stop briefly, then lurch forward back onto the street again. Eventually we pulled up behind her at red light which she then immediately drove straight through and started driving on the wrong side of the road. When the light turned green we caught up to her as she finally pulled her car into a grocery store parking lot.

The whole time Mike was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher giving updates at to what direction we were going and what streets we were passing. Mike walked up to the woman in the car and I heard him ask her to please turn off the engine and to give him her keys (later Mike told me she reeked of alcohol and was slurring her words). She reluctantly did just as three police officers arrived on the scene. After giving our statement, we left to go home in a daze.

I'm so proud of my husband for not just ignoring this woman, but stepping up to the plate. By doing so he got one very drunk driver off the street before injured herself or anyone else. And for that reason, I think Mike is a hero on his 34th birthday. It's definitely a birthday we'll never forget!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Mike is my Hero too! Way to go!!

Tandamaguire said...

Way to go Mike! And Happy Birthday TOO!

Jenn said...

Wow! That is an amazing story! Way to go guys and Happy Birthday, Mike!

affectioknit said...

That is such an awesome story - so few people care enough about their fellow man to do anything like that!

Happy Birthday!

Heather@WoolandFlax said...

What a guy! Happy Birthday, Mike!