day 75 : dont freak out when i was INCHES from getting run over

for real, you guys!
i have been biking for almost 4 years & i have had plenty of close calls ; but this morning, without a doubt, was my closest brush with death.

yesterday, i shared that i bought a new bike this weekend [you can read about leaving a yelp review here] for my upcoming duathlon.
blake & i got up early to get a long ride in {70 minutes}& on our way back, i was almost hit by a car.
because we have biked for so long, we are obnoxiously cautious ; i pride myself on really being present and aware when i am on the road.

so, we were at a 4-way stop. a car stopped before us {to our left}, then we stopped and then a grandma on our right stopped. car 1 went. then we went. and as we were in the intersection {i was closest to the grandma}, she went.
i think she was on auto-pilot & didnt quite register that humans were crossing the intersection.
as she starts to go, blake & i are both yelling and i visualize myself getting hit by this car.
{and mom, if you are reading this ; im just kidding. nothing like this ever happens...}
finally she stops INCHES away from me & one of us {hint : NOT ME} starts shouting and yelling at the grandma.
i couldnt make out what she was saying with her windows up, so i walked to her car {shaking SO hard, by the way!} and heard her out.
she said she got confused and her foot slipped. she apologized & i think she was sincere.
i told her that getting run over would seriously suck & she agreed. {cuz lets be honest ; NOT FUN!}

i was really proud of how i handled it. i know the initial reaction is to freak out & curse ; but im not interested in creating stress and bad vibes.
she apologized and we headed home. i was really shaken up, though. her headlight was really, INCHES away from my legs.

also, public service announcement : PLEASE be so careful, aware & kind when you are around bikes.
one wrong move & both of your lives could change forever.