Two high school girls were reportedly killed on Vo Thi Sau street this past Sunday when a car crossed the center line and plowed into oncoming motorbike traffic. The location of the accident is very close to our house -- three or four blocks -- and it was on a stretch of Vo Thi Sau that we travel nearly every day -- sometimes in a taxi and sometimes on a motorbike. We rode past the aftermath of the accident in a taxi on our way to tennis. The car knocked one motorbike and its driver shockingly high in the air, and another victim was dragged under the car. I saw a video of the accident online, and it's disturbing and upsetting. When I see stuff like this, I realize how easily it could have been Phuong, Joanna and me on the bike that was smashed into or run over. Joanna hasn't gotten to ride on the motorbike very much since I was broadsided a month or so ago. No information is being released publicly about the victims or driver of the car from Sunday's accident. Gossip and rumors are rampant. Alcohol has been mentioned as a factor; so has a flat tire. I'm not a cop or detective, but from watching the video, it doesn't appear the car was slowing down at all before impact. But that's just my perspective from watching the video. My heart goes out to the families of all of the victims. Many people here are unfazed by events like this. People still ride up and down our street at stupid speeds; you're still guaranteed to get cut off by the bike behind you when you both make a turn; and sure as hell you run the risk of getting hit by people running red lights. I use the word "reportedly" in the headline and first paragraph because, like I said, no information is being released. From seeing the video, it's difficult to imagine the two girls could have survived the impact, but I don't know anything for sure, other than the fact that drivers here -- of motorbikes, cars, busses and trucks -- are ridiculously foolish, reckless and dangerous.
* * *
Our application for an interview to get an I-130 spousal visa to the U.S. was submitted by our lawyer in Cleveland. I think it can take a year to get an appointment. Despite our impeccable character, we know we won't get the visa after this interview. But we hope to find out why my wife Phuong has the lifetime ban on coming to the United States.
* * *
No red-hot Joanna news. She's speaking more and more (English) and loves the walk with her mom and/or dad. When people approach her and make her uncomfortable, Joanna will immediately wave her hand and say "bye-bye" in a high-pitched tone. You gotta love that.
Walking and tennis are being cut short by monsoon season, so I'm buried in a book about the Vietnam war called
One Hell of a Ride Inside an Armored Calvary Task Force in Vietnam. I've had the book for quite a while, but I'm finally getting around to reading it. It's written by Colonel (Ret) William C. Haponski, who spent quite a bit of time in the Bien Hoa area during the war. It's the real deal, and the detail is rich. It's a good book that keeps me company when I go the coffee shop after I finish teaching my private students. It's part of my morning ritual.
* * *
We didn't have water in our house -- the third time in two weeks -- three nights ago after we had a heavy monsoon rain. Water, water everywhere, but ... I'm waiting for the return of the skin rash. Our fitness continues to improve from carrying the heavy buckets of water upstairs. We're vanguards of the future. And the water carrying has helped my tennis. I've reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in our house after three successive victories.
No comments:
Post a Comment