The Long End Short Of It
Oct. 7th, 2003 08:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jakebe
Hey there, all...
So about that accident over the weekend...how 'bout that? Just to clarify things, here's what happened.
Kevin and his friends Kyle and Kenny decided to drop in on me at work Saturday evening (I was working as an extra body for the Blues, Bikes and BBQ Festival). We all decided to go have dinner together at Ryan's, which usually has really good mac and cheese and a fairly sizable vegetarian section (including taco fixins, soup, pasta and the like). It did this time, too, even if it was on the expensive side.
Anywho, Kenny owns a kind of small truck; you know, the kind you see on Sanford and Son all the time. So, I'm sandwiched between Kevin and Kenny in front, and Kyle's sitting in the cab. Well before home, I ask if we can stop at the liqour store across the street for some sangria, because I have Tori Amos stuck in my head.
The intersection down the street from our house is one of *DEATH*. Up until a few months ago, there were no turn lights, and there still isn't a left turn lane for turning into a very popular little set of shops down there. I mean, come on, you have a liqour store, a Subway and a doughnut shop all in the same place! People turn in there like gangbusters! Anywho, our only course of options is to stop in the left-hand driving lane a little ways from the light and have our signal on. Which is exactly what we did.
So we're waiting for the turn when Kenny looks up into his rear view mirror, right around the same time there's a light behind us getting incredibly bright. He goes, "Oh shit," there's a split-second squealing of breaks, and then a collision. We were hit pretty hard; all three of us smacked our heads on the dashboard and the truck drifted a little ways before we managed to get to the side of the road.
It all happened *fast*. None of us were wearing our seatbelts, but we were so crammed into the truck it didn't quite matter; there wasn't much give to start with. :) Kyle was all right, even though a carpet cleaner fell on him, and the truck sustained some pretty good damage. Beyond that, no one was hurt. Not even the guy that rear-ended us. *His* car, though, was beyond totalled, and his airbag was spent. Cue Thom Yorke.
I think the most impressive thing throughout the experience was the way people reacted. The police were nice, the witnesses were genuinely concerned and helpful (not gossipy or placing blame) and Kevin didn't hesitate to tell the cops he wasn't wearing his seat belt when they asked. Go Kevin! I hesitated just long enough to let them know I was thinking about lying, but I told the truth anyways. I already felt guilty enough about causing accidents because of my need for alcohol; I didn't want Kenny to get a ticket because we all weren't well, obeying the law.
But no ticket ever came, which was amazing. The poor guy in the other car now has a wrecked car, higher insurance and well, a 'his-fault' accident under his belt; the rest of us pretty much got off with sore necks (Kyle has a messed-up knee) and heads for a few days.
That night, though, *all* I could think about was that scene in "Adaptation". Since when did traumatizing events get filtered through movies and music? Damned media.
Anywho, that's it. We're all fine now, and I'm planning to visit Kevin in Eureka Springs for a day or so this weekend, when Hethe comes down to visit.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about spirituality, writing, life and my decisions and everything. I've come to (yet another) realization of how little I know, and it makes me...hungry. :) I can't read enough.
Right now, I've got "Precious Bane" by Mary Webb. It's really interesting; written by a 19th century English girl, and it reads like Caddie Woodlawn or something similar. I honestly forgot it was British until there was a mention of ancient, Roman-built roads.
Much more on my mind, but it will have to wait until later. I ran a Changeling game on-line with Lazarus last night, and I think it went well. I'm 'ready' for Eliahn, again, too, assuming he's still interested. <:)
So about that accident over the weekend...how 'bout that? Just to clarify things, here's what happened.
Kevin and his friends Kyle and Kenny decided to drop in on me at work Saturday evening (I was working as an extra body for the Blues, Bikes and BBQ Festival). We all decided to go have dinner together at Ryan's, which usually has really good mac and cheese and a fairly sizable vegetarian section (including taco fixins, soup, pasta and the like). It did this time, too, even if it was on the expensive side.
Anywho, Kenny owns a kind of small truck; you know, the kind you see on Sanford and Son all the time. So, I'm sandwiched between Kevin and Kenny in front, and Kyle's sitting in the cab. Well before home, I ask if we can stop at the liqour store across the street for some sangria, because I have Tori Amos stuck in my head.
The intersection down the street from our house is one of *DEATH*. Up until a few months ago, there were no turn lights, and there still isn't a left turn lane for turning into a very popular little set of shops down there. I mean, come on, you have a liqour store, a Subway and a doughnut shop all in the same place! People turn in there like gangbusters! Anywho, our only course of options is to stop in the left-hand driving lane a little ways from the light and have our signal on. Which is exactly what we did.
So we're waiting for the turn when Kenny looks up into his rear view mirror, right around the same time there's a light behind us getting incredibly bright. He goes, "Oh shit," there's a split-second squealing of breaks, and then a collision. We were hit pretty hard; all three of us smacked our heads on the dashboard and the truck drifted a little ways before we managed to get to the side of the road.
It all happened *fast*. None of us were wearing our seatbelts, but we were so crammed into the truck it didn't quite matter; there wasn't much give to start with. :) Kyle was all right, even though a carpet cleaner fell on him, and the truck sustained some pretty good damage. Beyond that, no one was hurt. Not even the guy that rear-ended us. *His* car, though, was beyond totalled, and his airbag was spent. Cue Thom Yorke.
I think the most impressive thing throughout the experience was the way people reacted. The police were nice, the witnesses were genuinely concerned and helpful (not gossipy or placing blame) and Kevin didn't hesitate to tell the cops he wasn't wearing his seat belt when they asked. Go Kevin! I hesitated just long enough to let them know I was thinking about lying, but I told the truth anyways. I already felt guilty enough about causing accidents because of my need for alcohol; I didn't want Kenny to get a ticket because we all weren't well, obeying the law.
But no ticket ever came, which was amazing. The poor guy in the other car now has a wrecked car, higher insurance and well, a 'his-fault' accident under his belt; the rest of us pretty much got off with sore necks (Kyle has a messed-up knee) and heads for a few days.
That night, though, *all* I could think about was that scene in "Adaptation". Since when did traumatizing events get filtered through movies and music? Damned media.
Anywho, that's it. We're all fine now, and I'm planning to visit Kevin in Eureka Springs for a day or so this weekend, when Hethe comes down to visit.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about spirituality, writing, life and my decisions and everything. I've come to (yet another) realization of how little I know, and it makes me...hungry. :) I can't read enough.
Right now, I've got "Precious Bane" by Mary Webb. It's really interesting; written by a 19th century English girl, and it reads like Caddie Woodlawn or something similar. I honestly forgot it was British until there was a mention of ancient, Roman-built roads.
Much more on my mind, but it will have to wait until later. I ran a Changeling game on-line with Lazarus last night, and I think it went well. I'm 'ready' for Eliahn, again, too, assuming he's still interested. <:)
