Yesterday while I was out running errands I had a bit of a mishap. Well no, it was a really huge mishap, but I was showered with unexpected kindness. Only about a mile and a half from home, traveling south through an intersection on a green light that I had gone through thousands of times, another driver hit me.

The other car traveling at a high rate of speed came out of nowhere, smashed into the drivers side of my car. I think I went airborne for a second. The side airbags went off. I lost control of my car, went up over the curb and saw a concrete bench in the parking lot coming towards me at a high rate of speed. I smashed it, sent it flying and finally came to a stop. The good news is I some how threaded the needle between the fire hydrant and the light pole and didn’t hit the building beyond.

When I finally came to that stop I shakingly started to analyze my situation. Ok there is blood on my arm, but that’s just a really bad scratch, ok. I’m pretty sure the impact broke my door window. I thought I felt some glass before the airbags deployed, but I’m okay. My watch is going off intensely but I can’t see because my glasses are somewhere but not on my face. I’ve had an accident right across from the police station, that’s handy, but I better call 911 because my car is smoking and the inside is all messed up and I can’t get out of this car. I have got to get out of this car!!!

The next thing I know there is this person tucked under the airbag asking if I’m alright. He had witnessed the accident. He was so kind to me. I said I needed to call my husband. Feeling rattled, I dialed the number, but the call failed to go through the first time. The husband was out working on the stump and when he answered. He heard the sirens going off from the fire station down the street.

“Next, the EMTs greeted me with unexpected kindness. They are poking their heads in asking appropriate questions and trying to figure out how to get me out of my car. I told them I hurt but I thought I was OK. Everything seemed to be moving. I said let me just try and figure this out.

I knew I had to go up over the console in the middle, but I had to somehow duck my head too. This is not going to be pretty, I thought to myself. They chuckled with relief when they saw that all my parts were working. Surrounded by good looking young men, I should have probably done a TA DA when I finally landed on my feet. As I was speaking to the police officer an EMT quietly came up to me and took my arm and bandaged it without a word.

What happened to the other car? Well there were 4 passengers, two of which were kids. All seemed to be fine and after talking to the police officer she confirmed all was well. I had a feeling though. I asked her if they were insured. The answer was NO.

Last night while relaxing on the deck I said to the husband, damn I loved that car. He looked at me and said, “Shelley, how about being glad that I’m alright?” Point made! My car performed exactly as designed, and I’m so grateful for that. The police officer was so professional and kind, as well as the EMT’s. When I said I needed to call my husband, the witness said, “Honey dinners going to be late tonight”! I laughed and said, “You sound just like my husband.”

So my day begins with surprisingly no residuals from yesterdays folly, and I will begin slogging my way thru insurance, rental cars, and of course the always fun, finding a new car! You can read all about that journey in Buying a New Car: Misconceptions & Challenges. When have you been greeted with unexpected kindness? Let me know in the comments below.

I hope your day is less eventful.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley