"She's Real Fine, My 409..."

I've been pretty lucky when it comes to driving; over the past 42 years, only been remotely involved in 2 or 3 fender bender type accidents, none of which were my fault.  So I guess it was bound to happen eventually - while on his way home from his last night of finals, our son Andrew was in an accident. I want to be clear about this - it was not his fault!  As he was leaving a stoplight, some jackass decided it was a good idea to TEXT her way down the freeway off-ramp, and rear-ended our Subaru - which hit the car in front of it, which hit the car in front of it. A total of four cars involved and guess who took the brunt of it? You got it - ours. Really, the damage isn't visibly extensive - she got the rear passenger bumper and shoved it into the rear passenger tire, so that it rubs when driven. With a Subaru, you don't just replace ONE tire, you replace them as a set of 4. So it sits in our garage.

But today, the powers that be - AKA insurance companies - decided in their wisdom that my car is essentially totalled, and they'd be happy to give me $3K to take it off my hands. But I can't replace it for that! And, if I want to get it fixed, they'll deduct $700 from that price! 'Scuse me? It's MY car, completely paid for, I pay the insurance premiums, and you're gonna DEDUCT money if I want to fix it? Something is really wrong here.....

The best thing is that Drew was not hurt. Furious, yes, but not hurt. And that is what matters most. But it seems to me that if someone causes injury or damage as the result of doing something STUPID with their 3 ton weapon, we shouldn't simply suspend their license - we already know they don't play by the rules - they should forfeit their vehicle!!!  Somewhere in Clark County, there is an obnoxious, clueless, not-very-bright woman driving around in her late model Outback with nary a scratch, and MY car is about to be totalled!!!  I WANT THAT WOMAN'S CAR!!!!!

Ouch....

My trunk no longer closes...

Double Ouch....

 

THIS is totalled????

"Keep Calm and Marry On..."

Ah, true love...is there anything more uplifting or encouraging? To think that one couple's relationship can change their world, and perhaps change ours?  The Wedding was May 25, and I have to say it went better than I expected.  Every wedding has "stories"; the little things that happen and create anecdotes that last forever.  If your wedding is "perfect", you probably spent too much time worrying about the day instead of what it means to be married.  But that's just me.  Brian and Liz had an absolutely beautiful day, and a lovely ceremony with family and good friends, as they hoped for. Was it the party to end all parties as we would have liked? No, of course not.  But who cares? It was fun, we were with people we loved, we enjoyed each other's company, the pictures will be spectacular, and that's really all that mattered. It brought back memories of our own wedding, almost 35 years ago - looking at Brian at the top of the aisle reminded me of looking at Tim when I was the one processing. And now, I'm the one watching, gaining the daughter we never had. I wish for them every joy and happiness they dream of, and not as much of the other stuff, although I know it will come.

"Starting here, starting now, when we walk, we'll walk together, year by year, starting here...."