It only takes a few seconds to realize that the gift of life really is under-appreciated. I can still remember the exact moment in which I began to understand that life is the most valuable gift that I have ever been given. Never again since that moment have I forgotten how quickly that gift can be taken away. A few seconds earlier or later, a few inches left or right, or maybe just a little less luck could have changed what turned out to be a life-altering experience into a life-ending disaster.
             It was November 12th, 1998, and it was an unseasonably cold, fall day in Racine. Nothing led me to believe it would be anything other than a normal day, except for the fact that it happened to be my friend's birthday.
             I was on my way to the store to finish up some last minute shopping in preparation for a small surprise party that we would be having later for my friend. I had to make one more stop, and then I would be heading home to get ready for cake and ice cream with my friends. By the looks of things, there were not many people out, and there were very few cars moving around town. Other than the cars parked along the sides of the road, it was as if I had the road to myself. I had been driving for a little over a year, and I had taken these same roads countless numbers of times without any problems. I was about to find out, though, that this time would be different.
             As I was driving along, I noticed a car coming in the other direction. I was approaching the intersection of a small side street as the oncoming car slowed down to turn. Whether the driver did not see me, whether his judgment was off, or whether he just did not care, I will never really know, but suddenly he turned left in front of me. The
             only thing that I know for certain is that, in the next few moments, I realized exactly what I had been taking for granted all along.
             In the seconds to follow, all of the stories that I had heard of time sl...