I've debated posting this entry, because it's not very happy, and really isn't very interesting nor pertinent to anybody else. It does show some of my thought process at work, and there's some other commentary stuck in here and there. Anyway, I forewarn you.

Have you ever sat down and pondered things like your own death, or perhaps serious injury? For example, you're driving down the road, and realize that either a) you could drive off the edge or b) you were watching something else and could've had a collision had something else not grabbed your attention. Generally one hopes that lights or horns would do that, and usually they do. However, what would happen if you're driving around at night, not on a road anybody would expect you to be on (say 48th Street & Southern). Let's just imagine that you don't die, but are seriously injured in this car wreck. How would the police or paramedics know how to get a hold of your friends? So my brain starts going through this process.

As you probably know from past entries, I just lost my cell phone. It either was run over or damaged or somebody found it and didn't know how to get it back to me. This sparked my curiosity. I got my new phone, and the first entry is now "Home". I imagine if I'm in a wreck they'll look thru me for ID. They'll of course find my wallet, and probably my phone too. Perhaps they'd look thru the phone book to find someone to call, like "parents" or "home". However, the most likely means of contact would be from something in my wallet.

So I'm looking thru my wallet to see what somebody would find. My student ID & drivers license would of course tell them who I am. Bank cards, further verification of me, but not much help beyond that. Old shopping list... that can go in the trash. Phone card, arby's coupons, blockbuster card, shopper cards, not so helpful. Two clues that remain - My health insurance card, which of course would be useful to those paramedics who want to make sure they get paid. My old health card had my PCP name & number, I don't see that here. All it has is toll-free numbers for this and that. They could probably call one of those and figure out who my parents are and such, but nothing very direct. The other clue is Al's Father's business card. I'm not sure exactly why I carry that with me. I used to have my parent's cards, but I know their numbers and they're programmed into my phone.

So, assume they don't find my phone, and the health card is very indirect, they call up Al's dad. He's one of those people I know I can call no matter what the situation. He'd drop everything to do more than he could to help before you could say go. In the business world they talk a lot about networking - those are the type of people I want to network with. I hope I can/am somewhat like that too. Sometimes I probably try too hard and freak people out, other times my selfishness gets in the way and, well, I'm not doing the things I wish I was, or I have to step back and question my motives. Ok, off the tangent. Let's assume one of the emergency workers calls up Al's dad. His first reaction would be to call two people - Al, and my parents. I'm not sure the order, probably Al first since he'd be able to do the most about it right away being his location. Al would try to get a hold of Tim & Andy, and my parents would probably call my brother. These people would contact my friends and such. Then there is the crowd of people I have classes with. We are assuming that these are very critical injuries of course. I'd imagine my parents or my brother would call up the advisor for my program, Cindy West-Boglin, and let her know of the happenings. She would spread word to the instructors who would tell the group members that I'm working with. At least, that's one possibility. Of course those group projects would keep on keeping on, with only a few weeks left and such.

Earlier today I was thinking, what would happen if I was injured to the point of not being able to complete my program at this point? If I simply didn't do any more work, I would imagine I wouldn't pass any of the classes since finals are a good chunk of the grade, as well as the remaining projects. However, I wouldn't be able to retake the courses, since next year everything is getting all switched around. I dunno, maybe they'd make me do some project over the summer or something, maybe they'd just not give it to me at all. Who knows. Would it matter at that point? Probably not.

I'm not exactly sure the origin of these thoughts. Perhaps somewhat from Good Friday, but I don't think that's the sole source.