The Difference Between Photos and Reality.

NOTE: Slightly morbid post follows.

So tonight the family loaded up for a dinner outing. These are rare. Mom told us that she and our stepdad would probably go somewhere we'd get bored at after dinner, and told us to take one of our cars. Knowing we were gonna go down the Interstate, I told Mom that I'd handle it.

My little sister doesn't like driving much, while I tend to enjoy it. Not only that, but I think I'm really good at it. Both my parents were awesome drivers, and I think I inherited it. That, and I'm bolder on the Interstate than my sister. So we loaded up into my car and were on our way.

As we made our way towards the on-ramp, we saw a bunch of people standing on the overpass, looking out at the Interstate with phones on their ears. This is highly unusual, and it catches our attention. My sister suggests a jumper, and I shudder at the thought of what awaited us on the road.

We get onto the Interstate and come over the hill... and meet this horrible sight.

Twenty ambulances, including air transports. Several firetrucks. Flashing lights and blasting sirens everywhere. Tow trucks galore. Cars being put up on tow trucks that looked like they had flipped and spun and done all kinds of horrid things. Traffic stopped for miles. One car had its front end smashed all the way to the back driver's side door. One looked like it had just flipped over and over again.

I nearly slowed to a stop, eyes wide, forgetting to breathe. All I could say as I passed this awful scene was, "Oh my God..."

We drove past the scene and I resumed driving as usual, but my sister and I couldn't help but look back and wonder what devastation we had passed. After dinner, we were stranded in town due to the traffic, so we went to one of our favorite art stores to pass some time. This is where I learned instead of just 4 cars, the total was 11. After a while, we left for home.

I got onto YPP to help a crewmate forage and run fruits. I just couldn't make myself focus. The image of the twisted cars had burned itself deep into my mind. No matter how hard I tried to shake my head and close my eyes, it wouldn't go away. But it got scarier than just the image.

Though we didn't witness the cars crashing when we were out, I had a vision of it. I saw the cars spiraling, spinning, flipping, twisting. I could hear the metal crashing, crunching, collapsing. I could see the people panicking and wounded. For a moment, I could smell the smoke.

When I snapped out of this vision, I was shuddering violently and blinking back tears. I had to hold my breath for a few moments to make it cease. Chalk up another psychic experience for me. I hate them so, as I always seem to envision horrid things.

Seeing that awful image puts things into perspective in a way that is undescribable. You can see a massive disaster on television, in photos, or in the newspapers all you want, and while you feel sympathetic and hurt for these people... it's a totally different experience when the sight is laid out right before your very eyes. When you can see it... hear it... touch it... the reality of the situation becomes so much more apparent.

It's also like when you watch those crime shows on television. You watch the people who lost their loved ones to murderers and arsonists, and while you feel bad for these people, there's always that thought in your mind: "That'll never happen to me or my family."

...But believe me, it can. Oh God, how it can.

There is such a difference between photographs/television and reality. And tonight, I learned just how strong a difference it really is.