June 11, 2017

Today could have easily, EASILY have ended very differently.

I was be-boppin’ along to “Trees”, by Twenty-One Pilots, thinking of how much I FEEL.  I had burst into tears last night while learning “Screen” on the Uke for Maggie (she doesn’t know I bought her a Uke, too, “plus some” for graduation), and I’d just teared up again…  I was super stoked, having earlier discovered I could place my iPhone on the ashtray and see the WAZE directions…when….

The brake lights from the Hummer in front of me were getting closer and closer..and I kept stepping on the brake, to no avail.  I slammed them down all the way and the steering wheel seemed to be moving on its own as the wheels skated across the freeway.  I expected to slam into the concrete barrier…

…when suddenly we were  moving in a different direction (?) and then, she laid herself down, the sound of steel on asphalt was cacophonous….  Within seconds, I saw faces as people had stopped their cars and asked if I was ok.  My engine was still running, though I’d watched the keys drop to the floor.  I sniffed to see if there was any gasoline, since the side she was on held the gas tank, but I detected none.  I asked if they (whoever ‘they’ were) smelled anything and they said no, but maybe I should turn off the car.  I wasn’t sure how I would do that, considering the keys were on the floor, way down there…then the engine died.  With the help of a man who held onto me while I unsnapped the seat-belt, I carefully stood up in the bus.  The front windshield was cracked, but all the other windows were intact!  I hoisted myself up and out of the bus as people asked me hwo I was and  people gave me water.  Two women who witnessed the whole show stayed with me.

2 paramedics from Solano were on the scene and hung out til CHP arrived.  Other paramedics kept pulling by (at least 2-3), but I waved them on.  I was fine, I just wanted to see what Lizzie looked like.  It KILLED me when the CHP officer pushed her to the left side near the center barrier from the center lane with his car.  He said he “had to” to get traffic moving.  Dammit.  Why couldn’t we have just grabbed ten people and righted her up again?  I woulda been on my way.

The tow service decided, since she was already damaged, to slide her onto a flatbed  – they had never seen an accident like this one before and had called in other tow trucks “for consult” (exact words).  With CHP’s blessing, I climbed the front wheel of the bus and popped back in to Lizzie to grab my phone, wallet, etc. and to close the window before the looming “box of rain” reached us. I looked around and she looked very post-tornado.   As soon as she was loaded onto the truck it started pouring rain.  My daughter texted me – asked if I was ok, then asked about the bus.  Boy was the same.  These kids get how much Lizzie means to me…

T texted me, he was out looking for me.  He met me at the shop, which was a few minutes from his house.  VW family is the best. She doesn’t look too damaged.  That metal held firm, despite the asphalt massage.   Before I even got to the doctor for a check-up, he had already contacted Justin at Kombi Haus and other VW people, and located original metal parts for me.

Just to make sure, I went to the ER after T dropped me off, on ex’s advice.  I’m fine, I’ll just be sore.  Doc asked me if I wanted something stronger than naproxen, then proceeded to give me 600 mg of ibuprofen.  WTF???  Seriously?  That made me giggle.  My Girl is here with me, and I spoke to my Boy.

I THANK YOU for the calls, posts, messages, texts.  Your care and concern is heartwarming to me and reminds me that I am not alone. I love you.

PS – I’m still going to HSMF – it’ll just be in a tent.