Our New Car

(All those pieces are supposed to be on the front of the car!)

I was in a HUGE car accident on Friday. What day was that you say? Oh yes, Friday the 13!!! By the way, don't call me on that day next time it rolls around because I'll be sitting in my house all day watching TV and eating chocolate chip cookies. Instead of getting an EKG and CT scan performed.
I left the house in our new car (we've only had it five months!!!) and headed north on Cooper to go to Wal-mart and get a thermometer for Eli who had a raging fever at home. I was stopped at the light at Baseline. When the light turned green, I started to go forward into the intersection and the next thing I know, I hear a really loud crash, feel sharp pain throughout my body and look down to see my air bag deflating in front of me.
I immediately hopped out of my car to try to get witnesses because I knew the accident was not my fault and I've been hit twice before, so I know how important it is to have someone who will back up your version of events. I took three steps and asked the two cars I was now standing in front of, if they would stay and be witnesses. They both agreed and then I realized I was about to pass out, so I got down on my knees.
To sum it up from there, the gentleman who hit me "claims" he entered the intersection on a yellow arrow. Well, let me tell you, I have never in my life been at a dead stop and decided to enter a major intersection on a red light. I had a GREEN light and that's it. Unfortunately, even though my witness stayed to back up my account of this man appearing out of the middle of nowhere, because she wasn't driving the same direction as  either one of us, they took her statement, but they couldn't cite the guy for running a red light. Grrrr!
I had a lot of time to think while I was sitting in various waiting and doctor's rooms. I realized first of all that I had to stop playing the "what if" game with myself. I kept playing back the idea that what if I had decided not to go and get the thermometer at Wal-mart? What if I had gone the back way like I usually do? Etc. Etc. That type of thinking doesn't help and really, had anything changed, I wouldn't be remembering that day at all. It obviously would've been a nonevent.

However, the accident did happen and I did get hurt, but not that badly and I am still alive. The Lincoln town car that the other driver was in--had it come a second later or my car accelerated a tiny bit faster, he would've hit directly into my door and I could've broken bones, been paralyzed or worse--dead. I was so emotional the next day thinking about how lucky I am to be here doing the day to day stuff that makes life go by. I'm grateful for my healthy body that has healed so quickly. And, I'm grateful for so many wonderful friends and family who have texted or called and served our family to help us out. While I wouldn't wish a car accident on anyone, I feel so many tender mercies surrounding the whole episode.
And, in happier news, the insurance has declared the car a total loss and is going to pay us more than we paid for the car when we bought it. Yay!