Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Maybe I'm the One Who Needs Glasses

Today we were running a couple of errands before Miss Pink's 12:30 appointment with the eye doctor. I decided to stop by the library because they collect school supplies for underprivileged children and I had the supplies with me. I felt good because I had mailed the giveaway goodies to the winner in a timely fashion, and I had remembered to buy the supplies and turn them in before the due date. I was on a roll!

As I turned the wheel to park, I heard a sound that no one wants to hear, but that I know well: sssscccccrrrrraaaaappppe.

My first thought was, "No! I did not just hit a minivan while trying to park."

Yes. Yes, I did. CRAP. The van wasn't even over the line. This is gonna cost me.

I wrote a note and put it under the windshield wiper, went in and dropped off the supplies, and drove away saddened and disgusted at myself.

You see, I am terrible at parking and reversing a vehicle. I have only had one accident with another moving vehicle (when I was sixteen), but here is a list of all the stationary objects I've hit:
  • two different mailboxes
  • another car in a parking lot
  • the side of our garage
  • a post near a gas pump (I won't go back to that gas station)
  • a light pole at Target
  • a car stopped at a stoplight (I took my foot off the brake and rolled into her; no damage)
The other driver turned out to be a very nice man. Lucky for me, he's also a paint & body guy who can fix his car for about $100. We'll still have to pay more to have ours fixed, but it could have been worse. Of course, it could have been BETTER if this had never happened. If I had the money we've spent on my automotive mistakes, we could go on a very nice vacation. Or save it for our retirement, if we were actually going to be sensible. WHATEVER, you get the point.

I am also lucky that my husband is super-understanding. At this point, he knows that this is just part of being married to me. He says that builders call it "hidden costs"--money you don't know you're going to have to spend when you sign the contract, and then during the project, SURPRISE, there goes your profit. I hope I'm worth it!

Right after that I turned the car away from home. Instead of eating leftovers, I wanted to go to Chick-Fil-A. I ate a salad, but then I got a Coffee Caramel shake and then all was well again.

11 comments:

  1. Ouch! I'm glad your husband is understanding, but sorry you can't go on that nice vacation. How lucky you were to pick that particular car, though, eh?

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  2. Bah, my comment got eaten. :-P

    I think my stationary-objects-hit tally is hovering around 3, maybe 4, not sure. Don't ask me to parallel park, and heavens, don't even bring up backing a trailer. *heart attack*

    The worst time was when I was driving a friend, WHO WAS IN LABOR,
    and I hit a parked car in the hospital parking lot. SHE calmed ME down. I could have cried.

    Driving a tiny car is the only real prevention that works for me.

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  3. I don't hit stationary objects but I've hit A LOT of moving ones.

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  4. Awww....that's a bummer, but it sounds like at least everyone involved was cool about it. And coffee caramel shakes always makes things better.

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  5. Oh no. That is the worst sound to hear when driving too! Glad it ended up being as good as it could be!

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  6. It could be worse. We had this awful bus driver when I was a kid and she was ALWAYS sideswiping things when she parked... and then one day she ran over a KID. (he lived, but YIKES.)

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  7. Oh, I'm so sorry. Things like that put a damper on the day. At least it's someone who can cheaply fix his car, right? (trying to look at the bright side)

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  8. Those Coffee Caramel Shakes will cure anything, won't they? Glad Hubby is so understanding--I hate getting in scrapes!

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  9. Oh, I know that sound. But only you and I know about it ok? Just you and I.

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  10. I, too, have hit the post at the gas station, along with the basketball goal by my in-law's driveway. Oh, and I also once parked so close to the car in front of me that I was touching it, which I know because the person left under my wiper a Polaroid picture of my offense along with a nasty note that I should be more careful. I hope it was their van you hit. ;-)

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  11. Oh, how lucky to get a nice guy who could do the work himself!

    My driver's ed teacher told me I was the worst parker of any student she'd ever had.

    I love the "hidden costs" thing for marriage!

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