Car Accident

Without going into gory details, I was involved in a car accident a few weeks ago. No one was seriously hurt, although our van is a dead duck. As for me, my chest and back were very sore, and I was moving as slowly as a centenarian. Albeit a cute centurian with highlights. That said, I'm back to my normal spry, cheerful self.

However, the car accident made me Stop And Evaluate Life. I'm always on the lookout for Life Lessons (just ask my children), and I came away from this experience with a few. Here they are, in order of least to most important.

1. People with really bad eyesight (like myself) should always own a decent pair of back-up glasses.

Apparently, my purse was unzipped, and, at the moment of impact, my glasses flew out and buried themselves on the floor of the van amongst all kinds of debris such as a large diet coke with extra ice, two tacos, a notebook with book ideas, kleenex, a deck of cards about space trivia and a million pens. I didn't notice, which meant I spent the evening in the ER wearing large, blingy perscription sunglasses. To the nurse who asked me my profession, I was kidding when I answered, "Jazz Musician."

2. I am a horrible patient.

Quite possibly, Mr. Summy could have attested to this several times over during our twenty-three years of marriage. He has, however, wisely kept quiet on this front. Even that night in the ER, when I kept repeating, "I can't believe what a horrible patient I am. I'm hating every single second of being here. Who knew I'd be so grumpy and furious?" he merely blinked and smiled and kept his counsel.

3. I hate hospitals.

The whole time I was there, I just wanted to walk out. I did not like answering personal questions. I especially did not like answering personal questions in a crowded hallway. I did not like waiting three hours for an x-ray. I lay, staring at the ceiling, and seethed. And seethed. And seethed. Until I ran out of seething energy and decided that I needed a concrete plan for avoiding hospital stays. So, it's back to the gym on a VERY regular basis. And back to more healthy eating. And back to a simpler lifestyle where I'm not racing around like a chicken with her hairlighted head chopped off and where I learn to say "N.O. spells NO." I have much control over the first two issues, but less over the third. Still, I'm determined to slow down.

And look at this! I've already got two new pair of glasses!

And a new car! This salesguy, Michael Hooper at Ball Kia in National City, is so the best! For those who are interested, it's a Kia Sorento.

Drive safely.