My 90-year-old mother lives with my husband and me. Mom has four grandchildren. Two are my sister’s children, two are mine. Since December 2017 all four of the grandchildren or their significant other has been in a serious car accident. And in each case, none of them have been hurt.

1. It began with the youngest grandchild—one of my sister’s son. He was run off the freeway and it totaled his car. He walked away, unscathed.
2. Last month as my youngest and her family were on their way to Alaska for a military move, a bear decided to jump in front of their truck as they drove through Canada. My son-in-law managed to swerve and miss the bear—but the trailer they were towing did not. Fortunately, Elizabeth, her husband, and our two grandchildren were unharmed. Sadly, the bear could not say the same. He died. The trailer didn’t fare too well either. They had to get it repaired before they could get back on the road.
3. Two days ago our son informed me his wife was sideswiped by a truck pulling a boat. It totaled her car—but she, thankfully, is okay.
4. And then yesterday, my sister told me her oldest, his girlfriend totaled her car. Like the rest (other than the bear) she walked away from the accident.

That’s all four of the grandkids—or their significant other—and for me, I see this as the glass half-full. Cars can be replaced, people and bears cannot.