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H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
Thu Dec 19, 2013, 11:04 PM Dec 2013

Bumper

My younger son stopped by my house today. He said that yesterday evening, as he was driving on an interstate highway, he saw a large truck rear-end a car in front of him. The car spun in a circle, and then went over a steep bank.

My boys live near Binghamton, NY, and there has been quite a bit of snow recently. My boy called 911, then made his way down the bank to the car. It had snow up to the windows, and the doors wouldn't open. There was an elderly couple inside. He got the lady out through her window, carried her up the bank to safety, then went and carried the husband up, too. Then he got their dog.

While waiting for the police and ambulance, he cleared the bumper etc out of the highway. Cars continued to speed by, and a piece of metal got thrown near my boy's head.

My boy was here for over three hours today, before mentioning the incident.

There are some really good people in our world today.

79 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Bumper (Original Post) H2O Man Dec 2013 OP
And you raised one of them, Pat. brer cat Dec 2013 #1
Thank you. H2O Man Dec 2013 #15
K&R for a good guy with a good son ! RagAss Dec 2013 #2
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #23
That story is the highlight of my day Lifelong Protester Dec 2013 #3
Thanks. H2O Man Dec 2013 #24
A beautiful son you have there H2O Man. sheshe2 Dec 2013 #4
Thank you! H2O Man Dec 2013 #35
He sounds like a terrific human being. cyberswede Dec 2013 #5
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #36
It is a big deal and you both should be celebrated for it. notadmblnd Dec 2013 #60
Yo done well, H2O Man... MrMickeysMom Dec 2013 #6
Thank you! H2O Man Dec 2013 #37
a have a rather elderly aunt who lives there hfojvt Dec 2013 #7
Your post reminded me H2O Man Dec 2013 #38
k&r... spanone Dec 2013 #8
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #39
You're so right to be proud of him. Shrike47 Dec 2013 #9
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #40
Block, meet Chip. immoderate Dec 2013 #10
Thank you. H2O Man Dec 2013 #41
great kid you have there Liberal_in_LA Dec 2013 #11
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #43
Just yesterday, Change has come Dec 2013 #12
Well, thank you! H2O Man Dec 2013 #44
Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as the old saying goes. calimary Dec 2013 #13
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #45
Please let him know that ALL of us moms and dads here on DU are proud of him! calimary Dec 2013 #68
I definitely will! H2O Man Dec 2013 #70
Lovely lovely person he is. tblue Dec 2013 #14
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #48
An excellent young man. HappyMe Dec 2013 #16
Thank you. H2O Man Dec 2013 #49
I have to ask...Did the truck stop? rgbecker Dec 2013 #17
Yes, he did stop. H2O Man Dec 2013 #50
Did the truck that hit the car stop? seveneyes Dec 2013 #18
Yes, he did. H2O Man Dec 2013 #51
I have only told my wife about this. Lochloosa Dec 2013 #19
Well done! H2O Man Dec 2013 #52
getting choked up BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #20
I'm glad H2O Man Dec 2013 #53
beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. I needed that. nt antigop Dec 2013 #21
Thank you! H2O Man Dec 2013 #54
A good man raised a good son suffragette Dec 2013 #22
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #55
Yes, they are so scary and such a sudden jolt of fear suffragette Dec 2013 #73
Excellent. You raised a good son! MineralMan Dec 2013 #25
Thank you! H2O Man Dec 2013 #56
Lucky couple, that your son saved them!! nt cry baby Dec 2013 #26
A friend stopped by H2O Man Dec 2013 #57
Yup there is madokie Dec 2013 #27
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #58
Thank you madokie Dec 2013 #59
rte 88? redwitch Dec 2013 #28
Yes, H2O Man Dec 2013 #65
I one got caught on rte 88. 6 inches of snow. redwitch Dec 2013 #77
Great story Gothmog Dec 2013 #29
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #66
A true and humble hero.... CherokeeDem Dec 2013 #30
Thank you! H2O Man Dec 2013 #67
All the difference in the world. Octafish Dec 2013 #31
Thanks, Octafish! H2O Man Dec 2013 #69
The thought someone would toss a metal object at another human being... Octafish Dec 2013 #72
Excellent people. robertpaulsen Dec 2013 #32
Thanks! H2O Man Dec 2013 #71
That would be fantastic! robertpaulsen Dec 2013 #79
I have a personal saying that I live by. airplaneman Dec 2013 #33
Thanks. H2O Man Dec 2013 #74
Heroics are spontaneous. There is no conscious decisions. alfredo Dec 2013 #34
Exactly. H2O Man Dec 2013 #75
Adrenalin is a wonderful drug. alfredo Dec 2013 #78
good father, good son barbtries Dec 2013 #42
Thank you! H2O Man Dec 2013 #76
Hope all in your family are healthy. grantcart Dec 2013 #46
Hello from Endicott, H20 Man! whyzayker Dec 2013 #47
No doubt the acorn didn't fall far from the tree, I'm happy your son, the couple and Uncle Joe Dec 2013 #61
You have to be proud of that young man! Botany Dec 2013 #62
Bumper Beringia Dec 2013 #63
Your son is a true hero Samantha Dec 2013 #64

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
15. Thank you.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 09:12 AM
Dec 2013

It's funny ....I had gotten out some photos of him from when he was wee-little to show his girlfriend's daughters. The younger one was asking if he was a kid, because he is a student (SUNY-Binghamton; or a grown-up, because he has a job (social worker)? The questions of a five year old!

I know the bank that he carried these people up. And I know how unsettling auto wrecks are. Those people must have felt secure having this big, very strong young man assisting them.

Mighty proud of him.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
23. Thanks!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 01:06 PM
Dec 2013

He is a good person, and it made me proud. He doesn't think it was any big deal, but I do!

Lifelong Protester

(8,421 posts)
3. That story is the highlight of my day
Thu Dec 19, 2013, 11:13 PM
Dec 2013

He certainly IS one of the "really good people in our world today."

I appreciate your sharing of this story.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
24. Thanks.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 01:09 PM
Dec 2013

It made my day, too. We benefit from recognizing all the good in the world, even little things like this. I am not suggesting ignoring the bad stuff, of course, but we counter it best by positive deeds. (Too much arguing about nonsense these days, even on DU.)

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
36. Thanks!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 03:33 PM
Dec 2013

I'm not objective when it comes to my children, but I like to look at him and think to myself, "He's a fine young man, and can take care of himself." When he (and/or his siblings) help to take care of others, it does me good.

notadmblnd

(23,720 posts)
60. It is a big deal and you both should be celebrated for it.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 08:01 PM
Dec 2013

He for taking a risk and helping someone in need and you as a parent or raising someone who contributes positively to society.

Good on him H2O Man and good on you.

MrMickeysMom

(20,453 posts)
6. Yo done well, H2O Man...
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 12:41 AM
Dec 2013

I'm sure the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.

I used to live in that area, and know parts of 81 are pretty bad.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
37. Thank you!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 03:36 PM
Dec 2013

This took place on I-88. In that sense, the couple was lucky. As you know, once you get between Marathon and Cortland, there are some gorges near the highway, where people couldn't survive going over.

I appreciate your kind words!

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
38. Your post reminded me
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 03:40 PM
Dec 2013

of a meeting at the Long House at Onondaga years ago. An elder was saying that it was good to see more young folks returning to the traditional ways. I noticed that the people he was talking to were in their 60s. I'm sure he had known them when they were little children, and still considered them "kids." Age can be a funny thing that way -- a lot of it depends upon your state of mind, I suppose.

I hope your Aunt is doing well!

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
40. Thanks!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 03:43 PM
Dec 2013

There's enough "bad" in the world that it can seem overwhelming. I like to think that there must be at least as much "good," in order to have kept our species going.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
41. Thank you.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 03:47 PM
Dec 2013

I like that!

This young man is pretty big, at least compared to me. (He boxes amateur, at either cruiserweight or heavyweight. These days, there are lots of bigger young men.) So I might actually be more accurately called a "chunk" in my old age, and he's the new "block."

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
45. Thanks!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 05:27 PM
Dec 2013

I'm sure he would wonder why I posted the OP. He doesn't think that what he did was that significant. And really, that's the way it should be: people looking out for others, without thinking of it as in any way out of the ordinary. I'll show him the many nice responses here, and I know he'll be pleased!

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
70. I definitely will!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 10:27 PM
Dec 2013

He stops by, usually every other day, to check up on me. I expect he'll be here tomorrow .....in fact, I'm sure he will, as his younger sister has a basketball game, and he offered to drive me to it. I know this thread will make him happy.

tblue

(16,350 posts)
14. Lovely lovely person he is.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 02:04 AM
Dec 2013

Just look at the gift you brought to humanity. Does my heart good to read this story.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
50. Yes, he did stop.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 07:34 PM
Dec 2013

But according to my son, he wasn't helpful. He was invested in attempting to blame road conditions for his inability to avoid the car in front of him.

Lochloosa

(16,019 posts)
19. I have only told my wife about this.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 10:31 AM
Dec 2013

A few years ago I came around a corner on a country road and saw a jeep overturned. There was a young girl trapped under the jeep with her head buried in the mud.

I got out to see what could be done and before I knew it there were 4-5 guys that had pulled over lifting the jeep up and pulling her out.

After the ambulance arrived everyone just drifted off including me.

There are a lot of silent hero's out there.

Good on your boy.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
52. Well done!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 07:39 PM
Dec 2013

And I agree with you 100%. Ordinary people do extraordinary things. And sometimes it seems that, in part because they are quiet about it, that it goes unnoticed. And so the general public tends to hear more about the negative things, and that saturates the way we view society.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
53. I'm glad
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 07:43 PM
Dec 2013

that you read my OP, and got the message!

Any snow up there in Rochester? (smile) I used to hang out in one of the suburbs there in the 1970s, and there was always plenty of snow there in the winter.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
55. Thanks!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 07:49 PM
Dec 2013

Auto wrecks are always unpleasant. I'm glad that no one was seriously injured. (Back in 1981, I was forced off the road by a truck driver, and went down a steep bank. It's an experience I have never forgotten.)

suffragette

(12,232 posts)
73. Yes, they are so scary and such a sudden jolt of fear
Sat Dec 21, 2013, 02:15 AM
Dec 2013

And walking in a high speed area for cars is scary as well. Once my sister's car broke down on the freeway and the two of us had to walk and carry her children and make our way off the on ramp to safety. It didn't help that it was pouring buckets.

Your son was so brave to assist them.

I'd say this is the best holiday gift you could have.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
57. A friend stopped by
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 07:55 PM
Dec 2013

today to check up on me. She's a retired public school teacher from NYS. I told her about the incident, and she said the same thing -- that it must have reassuring for the couple to have this powerful young man carry them up the bank after what had to have been an unnerving experience.

Thanks!

madokie

(51,076 posts)
27. Yup there is
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 01:22 PM
Dec 2013

This one didn't fall far from the tree either.
I'm proud for you and honored by your son
You and yours have a Merry Christmas

redwitch

(14,933 posts)
28. rte 88?
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 01:23 PM
Dec 2013

I hate that road in the snow, so many steep embankments! Your son is a good guy and I am glad the couple and their dog are ok.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
65. Yes,
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 10:03 PM
Dec 2013

it was on I-88. There are a lot of sections that become hazardous in the winter months, as you know. And there are people who, for whatever reason, drive too fast for the conditions.

In this case, it sounded like the truck driver was going too fast, and not paying attention. It's lucky that no one died as a result.

I appreciate your kind words.

redwitch

(14,933 posts)
77. I one got caught on rte 88. 6 inches of snow.
Sat Dec 21, 2013, 12:17 PM
Dec 2013

Not a plow in sight. I was creeping along, white knuckled praying for an exit when an SUV passed me driving like the road was clear. Three or four miles later and he had slid off and down a very steep embankment. Amazing there were no injuries. Awful road in bad weather. I think it was the spring of the following year when culverts washed out and two truckers died.

CherokeeDem

(3,709 posts)
30. A true and humble hero....
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 01:44 PM
Dec 2013

it is wonderful to hear about someone with such compassion...

Very proud of him... give him a big hug for all of us!!!

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
67. Thank you!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 10:09 PM
Dec 2013

He told me that when he got to his girlfriend's, his clothes were soaked from the snow, and filthy from cars going by, splashing him with slush. She asked him what the heck happened? When he was explaining, she thought he was joking, because he seemed so casual about it.

I'm glad that you liked this. And pleased that so many others here liked it, as well.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
69. Thanks, Octafish!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 10:24 PM
Dec 2013

I'm thinking that you might remember my son from some photographs I posted in the past ..... mainly in the DU:Sports forum. And I think that you've spoken with his older brother. It's funny how two brothers can, in ways, be so different -- in this case, the older one is a peacenik musician, the other a hard-punching amateur boxer -- and in many other ways, be so similar. They both have character, and values. And that, as you note, makes all the difference between those who help others, even "strangers," and those who turn their backs.

(I stocked a new book shelf with Kennedy books last week. Couldn't fit all of them on it, but it's a pretty impressive collection. I hope that one day, you and I can pull up a couple chairs near it, and discuss them!)

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
72. The thought someone would toss a metal object at another human being...
Sat Dec 21, 2013, 01:44 AM
Dec 2013

...made my heart drop. As words show what fills the heart, action demonstrates what the spirit holds.

I remember well speaking with one of your sons. I also recall he posted on DU, I believe to keep us aware of your recovery from injury suffered in a fall at your home.

The stories you have shared about your children are excellent lessons. Through your active presence in their lives, you have helped shape good vessels in all your children. In return for the love invested in them, you are blessed to see how they help make this a better world. Like the universe itself, Character is no accident.

PS: It would be my great honor to sit with you and talk about books, the Kennedys, our nation and anything and everything. Some think 50 years ago is a long time. Those who remember those days know it was just yesterday. Sharing ideas, as much as harnessing a team of horses to plow the earth, can make tomorrow better.

robertpaulsen

(8,632 posts)
32. Excellent people.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 02:01 PM
Dec 2013

Your son did the right thing and then some. Reading this put a smile on my face and warmed my heart.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
71. Thanks!
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 10:30 PM
Dec 2013

He's a good person.

On the post right above your's, I invited Octafish over; you should join us. We'll sit and talk politics, then go watch my son in the boxing gym.

robertpaulsen

(8,632 posts)
79. That would be fantastic!
Sat Dec 21, 2013, 07:50 PM
Dec 2013

I'm not sure I'll have the opportunity within the next year to come out to the East Coast, but I certainly appreciate the invitation. It would be an immense pleasure to talk politics with you and Octafish; go over all the JFK books in your library. I'd love to meet your wonderful son. Hopefully this will happen in the future.

Happy holidays, H2O Man!

airplaneman

(1,236 posts)
33. I have a personal saying that I live by.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 02:44 PM
Dec 2013

The world is no better than how you treat the people around you.
Your son clearly is making this a better world.
-Airplane

alfredo

(60,065 posts)
34. Heroics are spontaneous. There is no conscious decisions.
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 03:03 PM
Dec 2013

Nature takes over. They are surprised that they were capable of such acts, but feel no need to brag about what they had little control over. They are totally in the moment.


Good parenting gives a child the self confidence to act without having to think. His actions are a good reflection on you.

H2O Man

(73,321 posts)
75. Exactly.
Sat Dec 21, 2013, 10:51 AM
Dec 2013

In athletics, being totally in the moment is described as "being in the zone." An individual performs at a different level, both mentally and physically. It wasn't until the piece of metal zipped by his head that my boy saw what he was doing.

He'll be here today; I'll show him this thread; and he'll shake his head, and say I shouldn't have posted the OP. But he will be happy that the Old Man is so proud of him, and surprised by the wonderful response of the DU community.

Uncle Joe

(58,112 posts)
61. No doubt the acorn didn't fall far from the tree, I'm happy your son, the couple and
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 08:05 PM
Dec 2013

their dog is safe.



Thanks for the thread, H2O Man.

Beringia

(4,314 posts)
63. Bumper
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 08:22 PM
Dec 2013

When I saw the title, I thought you were going to make word play on Bummer by using Bumper.

You raised a Bumper Crop.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
64. Your son is a true hero
Fri Dec 20, 2013, 09:24 PM
Dec 2013

and apparently a modest one at that. Congratulations on raising such a wonderful son. I am sure all your children are wonderful. Happy holidays to you and your family.

Sam

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