To review, I survived pneumonia right before Christmas in 2024, and then, in February, a collapsed lung. I recovered, but Fortuna, the Roman goddess of chance, had more games to play.
When I share these events with friends, I laugh at the absurdity of what happened next. Yet Fortuna, often depicted with a blindfold, is capricious.
In mid-March, I started walking home from the supermarket. As I approached the sidewalk, a car suddenly sped onto it, then onto the strip of land between the sidewalk and the parking lot, knocking over a sign and continuing its reckless way. It was going too fast for me to get the license plate.
If I had left seconds earlier, I likely would have been killed.
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The following week, thinking of the close call, I walked to the supermarket. I reflected that, if one were to stroll around town over many years, there would be a good statistical likelihood of being hit by a car.
On my way home, I came to the intersection of the sidewalk with a driveway used by pizza delivery vehicles. One of the cars roared through the turn from the street, oblivious to pedestrians. Again, if I had left moments earlier, I probably would have been killed or severely injured.
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My friends and I are struck by how many threats I have survived, beginning with those in “I Survived, Part I: My Least Favorite Night.” We wonder, if a cat has nine lives, how many does a human have?
Cats, of course, have but one life. Their agility and survival instincts foster the ancient idea that they have multiple lives. I encourage everyone to take good care of them and ensure their safety. This includes, besides regular veterinary care, keeping them indoors, away from the dangers and diseases they face outside (and avoiding their threat to birds and other wildlife).
It also means facilitating their recovery if they somehow get outside. To do this, owners should 1) have a veterinarian microchip them, and 2) give them breakaway collars with tags with the owners’ cell phone numbers.
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We, too, have only one life, and we need to try to preserve it. In the context of this piece, we need to be aware of the danger to pedestrians. Defensive driving is good practice for drivers; defensive walking is good practice for pedestrians. Be aware that drivers may not see you, may be distracted, or may be reckless. This is particularly important when crossing streets: never assume drivers will see you or stop.
The National Safety Council’s “Take Steps to Avoid Injury While Walking” offers good advice for both pedestrians and drivers.
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Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and safe new year!
References
“Fortuna:
Roman Goddess”
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fortuna-Roman-goddess
“Why Do They Say Cats Have Nine Lives?”
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Why-Do-They-Say-Cats-Have-Nine-Lives
“Do Cats Really Have Nine Lives?” (5-27-21). Christine O’Brien.
https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/resources/do-cats-really-have-nine-lives
“Take Steps to Avoid Injury While Walking”
https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/pedestrian-safety
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