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Photo is generic, not from this story.If you haven't heard yet, you will soon. An SUV driven by an elderly man smashed through the window of a Chabad Chanukah family festival where at least 150 people were celebrating the day with crafts, games, etc. My heart goes out to the father-daughter, and two siblings who are in critical condition as well as to all the others injured (I believe 14 in all). At first I thought it may be a terrorist attack because someone told me the driver was young and still managed to keep accelerating through the building until reaching the opposite wall. I understood it wasn't when I heard 'elderly'. My storefront has twice been visited by elderly drivers who think they are pressing on the brake, wondering why it's not stopping, and are pressing harder and harder on what turns out to be the accelerator. Once I actually ran outside, reached in to shut off the lady's engine while she was still pedal to the medal and in shock.
I have seen and heard from relatives how my dad's reaction time has decreased, he has blown stop signs and I believe he should not be driving. But he won't hear it. "We are trying to make him an invalid," he says. Meanwhile, it's a matter of time before he hurts/kills himself, my mom, others in the car, or innocent bystanders. My sister refuses to be in the same car while he drives. It's time to read him the riot act. The elderly are so stubborn and don't recognize their limitations. Everyone else must be overreacting, he thinks. I bet I will be the same way. I don't admit that my body can't handle the challenges as well as it did 20 years ago. Maybe I'll look back over this post and stop myself when the time is at hand. Ah, who am I kidding, I won't be able to see then.
I can't image the pain those families are going through right now. All I can say is, "God help them." What has made this tragedy more real to me has not been what I see in my own aging father but the fact that my kids where right there with their mom, one window over. They described in detail seeing the bleeding faces, the man stuck under the vehicle, the screaming, the fear. My daughter says she isn't afraid of scary shows anymore because it isn't real but this was. "Isn't Chanukah supposed to be happy? Why couldn't it happen when it wasn't a holiday?" I could only tell her that accidents happen, that I love her and that God was watching over her. I didn't let her hear me cry as she described the scene while I imaged their crumpled bodies. I don't know what nightmares they will have but I thank God they are safe.
Refuah Shelaimah to all and God Speed (but don't let the elderly).
11pm update: Yitzchak ben Hadassa Devorah Basya Fayga, is in serious but stable condition. His daughter Yakirah Breindel bas Rochel is Boruch Hashem Home.
Rivka bas Chana is recovering from multiple injuries and her son Daniel bas Rivka is doing Boruch Hashem better.
Please also have in mind Shmuel ben Tova and Yehudis bas Tova - a brother & sister who both have severe head trauma.
Please also have in mind Yitzchak Zev ben Masha Ehsha and Yaakov Zvi ben Sora.
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