February 2006 The Megaphone Page 5
I Believe In Angels
by Cindy (Benedict) Odom
In one of the Megaphones, Julie wrote about an "Angel" experience . .
. I too think there are Angels.
Steve and I built a new home, and moved in to it on June 27, 1997. Life
was sweet, and we were blessed. We had a new home on 3 and ½ acres. We spent a
great deal of time having coffee while sitting on the screened porch and
enjoying nature. This was our own dreamland.
On September 23, 1997, Steve had a massive heart attack. He was in the hospital
for several days, and unable to return to work for almost 6 months. Life was
still sweet; I was able to bring him home. I didn’t go anywhere without him. I
always made him go with me. He was not to climb stairs and spent his
recuperation time in the family room on the couch. He ate special foods,
as his cholesterol was in part what caused his heart attack.
On October 13. 1997, 3 weeks after Steve’s heart attack. I was preparing his
lunch and my can opener absolutely would not work. I didn’t even have a back
up. So, I needed to go buy a new one. I put some things away, and was going into
the family room to get Steve so we could go. I just stopped for a moment because
something came over me. I can’t explain it, but I picked up the cordless phone
and laid it on the table by Steve and made sure his nitro was also there close,
and oh, can’t forget the remote. I told him I was going to Osco to buy a can
opener and wouldn’t be gone long. He could just stay home and get some more
rest.
I arrived at Osco and went right to the isle I needed and there was the perfect
can opener. It was one designed for tall cans. It took me all of 10 minutes to
buy it. I felt more at ease; I would only be gone about 30 minutes.
I headed for home and as I approached my turn, with turn signal on, I had to
stop and wait for oncoming cars and school busses. Hopewell School had just let
out and there were a bunch of cars and busses to wait on. I can still count them
in my mind today. As I was stopping, I glanced in the rear view mirror. Good, I
thought, nothing behind me. This is not a great place on 144 to have to stop and
wait for very long.
As I was waiting and counting the cars and busses, I glanced again in my rear
view mirror. I could see a van a good distance behind me. I thought to my self
that I’d be able to get turned way before this van got any closer. I glanced
again and the van was pretty close and moving fast. Typically at this
spot, cars fly around stopped cars. OK, that is what the van will do.
Before I could get turned the van didn’t go around as I had thought. It hit me
going approximately 50 mph and pushed me 3 feet past my turn. It came into my
trunk with such force that it jarred the back seat up toward the passenger seat
and moved it into the glove box. The impact creased the passenger side of my car
all the way up to the front head light. Buckled both of my back tires under. It
skimmed over my gas tank, and you could see the top of it in the trunk.
I knew I wanted to get off the highway so nobody else would hit us. When the van
backed out of my trunk, I managed to get turned onto the county road. I just sat
there for a moment, a little bit dazed. I picked up my cell phone and dialed
911. Then I called our son-in-law and asked him to go get Steve. I no more than
hung up and our neighbor, who was Fire Chief and a paramedic in Franklin at that
time, pulled up in front of my car.
After the whole ordeal, our neighbor stopped by to see how I was. He said it was
just by chance he was going to town. He thought he would go buy some snacks, but
after the ambulance left he had forgotten about going to the store and went back
home. He said he guesses he was just suppose to be there.
Now I believe if Steve had been with me, he could have been seriously hurt, and
possibly had another heart attack. I also believe my guardian angel was there to
keep me from taking Steve with me. I believe my guardian angel sent my neighbor
to insure my safety till help arrived. My blood pressure had zoomed to 150/100.
Guess I was a little bit shaken up.
Whether we know it or not, whether we understand it or not, whether we accept it
or not, I believe God sends Angels to help us. Angels are mentioned in the Bible
280 times. God sends Angels to all of us.
This was my ‘91 Grand Am.
All paid for, no rust, no dings, (until Oct. 13, 1999) ran like a dream and only 53,000 miles.
Cindy (Benedict) Odom '69
Somewhere safe 'n sound ... 'round Franklin, IN
