We're Fine, But...

I had a car accident today. It's my first in about five years, and only my second ever.

I was on my home from an awful trip to Target with Patrick to pick out birthday presents for a birthday party he's going to tomorrow for twins in his K class. It was awful because he's reached the age where he's old enough to care what people get, but not old enough to understand the concept of what kinds of gifts are appropriate / we can afford, so he just points at everything we walk past, saying he wants to get them that. And, of course, just as we got to the hair care area to get my hair stuff, he had to go to the bathroom, which is conveniently located outside the register area, so you can't get there without going through the registers. Also, I am hugely PMSing, so I didn't have to world's highest amount of patience with all of the jabbering and pestering.

We got into the car, and were halfway home in heavy traffic heading into the downtown area when the car in front of me stopped short, and I didn't have time to stop. I banged into her, and she in turn banged into the car in front of her, which was stopped in the middle of the busy road trying to turn into a driveway. Of course, I try to do my best at everything, so the other two cars were a Mustang (this was the car I actually hit) and a Buick.

Everyone was OK, although the airbag in the Mustang, which was driven by a nineteen year-old girl and her boyfriend, deployed when she hit the Buick. It must have a really touchy airbag, because there was barely a scratch on the Buick. The front ends of both my car and the Mustang were pretty smashed up, and I proceeded to leak what I later found out was antifreeze all over the road. Sigh.

A few minutes after it happened, an off-duty EMT showed up by chance, and informed us that he had already called paramedics and the state police for us, did anyone want him to check them over? We had already decided amongst ourselves that we weren't going to call the police, and no one was hurt at all, so that ended up being a big hassle. I *am* grateful to him for checking on us, since not everyone would do that, so it was very nice of him, but I think his youth and excitement at being the first on a 'scene' caused him to overreact just a smidge. So, thank you Mr. EMT, I ended up with a $130 ticket for failing to control my speed and avoid a collision from the state cop you called.

Actually, though, in the end it might have been best that the cop was there. He was very, very nice, and since everyone at the scene was nice as well, and had all our papers in order, it was an easy experience for him. And, in the end, I think he saved me, because....

(before I continue, let me say that five-and-a-half year-old boys all need to be sedated, All The Time. My boy, especially, seems to need some kind of shock collar that automatically buzzes when he does something stupid, which lately is every five minutes)

while I was busy leaning into the car on my cell phone, which had OF COURSE run out of juice while I was making the appropriate calls so I was tied to the a/c power, trying to hear the insurance information, I could see Patrick out of the corner of my eye, standing next to the car, playing with the gravel on the grass at the side of the road (there was a very wide shoulder, and the police car was parked about two yards behind me, so he wasn't anywhere near traffic). I let him do it, because 1) I was tied to the car, 2)the poor kid had been stuck with me there for about 45 minutes, and 3)he was at least behaving himself. Or so I thought.

A minute later, there was a man walking towards me, hollering and waving his hands. Apparently, my little urchin was tossing the stones into the street, and had hit some cars. This guy was PISSED, and had actually pulled over to scream at me and my son about this, while I was trapped on the side of the road with a leaking radiator and crumpled front end!! I was Petrified. That guy was mad, and he was yelling that 'your kid threw a boulder at my car!!!!' Thank God for that police officer, because he was there in a flash, herding the guy away from me and back towards his car. I head the guy yelling that he was 'freaked out because he got hit by a boulder that THAT KID THREW AT ME', but the cop got rid of him. Then, Mr. Police came back and had a little talking-to with Patrick, which I was already having as well. Of course, this was the End Of My Rope, and I started to cry. I already felt terrible and shaken, and that scary stranger was enough to send me over the edge. The guy had every right to be mad, and I wouldn't have been upset if he had pulled over and scolded Patrick like a normal person, but seriously, while it was a stupid thing for a kid to do, and big deal, it wasn't a Big Deal, especially not enough to pull over and freak out on a five year-old and his mom who were just in an accident. Also, what the hell kind of crazy delinquent mother did I look like THEN?! I can see the paper headlines now - Local Woman Causes Multiple Traffic Outrages In Friday Rush Hour.

Anyway, the officer was great, and the tow truck showed up, and the car's in the driveway. The insurance adjuster will show up sometime early next week and look at it, wherever I have it towed to for repairs. I'll have a rental car until it's fixed, thanks to the insurance company. I hope my insurance doesn't go up because of this, but I have a feeling it might. DH got hit in April, and now this... I have a feeling we're screwed. I've been with Geico since I started driving in '97, but still. Sigh.