Always remember the emergency brake

In my car, in a rush, I noticed the back window was still partially obscured by snow. Put the car in Park and jumped out to clear the window. All went well for a minute or two, then I leaned over to reach the far side of the window, and the car began to move. The door, still open, struck and threw me, fortunately along rather than on, the driveway.

(Aside: tires are huge when they are rolling past, a few inches from your face.)

I got to my feet, not badly injured, to see my car still rolling slowly across the street and onto a neighbor’s lawn, while cars full of students from the nearby high school drew near. The first of these was driven by a capable young man who sized up the situation, leaped over and turned off the ignition, to my huge relief.

He then brought the runaway car back to my driveway, beamed at me and left, followed by a cavalcade of other students’ car, horns blowing in congratulations.

I don’t know his name, but would like him to know that I am very grateful to him for his quick and decisive action.

— Dawn MacFarlane