Juliette Ochieng briefly fell into a situation where she thought it may have been her time; but the Man Upstairs, who arranges such things, didn't intend a vertical transfer. She gave thanks. My brushes with danger — almost hit by a car on a rainy night in 1996, caught outside during the Syracuse Labor Day Derecho in 1998 — left me more shocked than thankful. But I'd like to believe I take things a tiny bit more seriously today. Most of us would. Moments when we're reminded who's in charge help.