Bye, Honda Fit. Thanks for everything!

It was one of those moments, you know?  We were driving, the light was weird, the lanes kept getting lost in and out of the mist from the salty water pulled up from the blacktop and the intense bright glare of the sun.  Southbound, I-95, just past Washington DC.

Truth is, we didn’t stand a chance.

So, one person in the far left–who had lost sight of their lane in the glare–realized they had drifted out of their lane and were about to hit the construction sand barrels in the left median. They, of course, jerked their car back into the left lane.  Which caused the truck next to them to jerk into the middle lane.  Which caused me to have to swerve…and I have no idea what happened, but I lost control of the car.

Long story short, we hit the right concrete abutment, spun back into traffic, did a complete 360 and hit the same abutment again.  I do remember yanking the wheel to the right after the first hit on the right, because the last thing I wanted was a hit by oncoming traffic.  We came back to rest against that same concrete divider.

So here’s the deal: We walked away from this.  George and I opened our doors and walked away a little dented but generally, just fine.  And while we both think this sucked and wish this hadn’t happened, we also both acknowledge that it could have been much, much worse.  So we search for lessons among the wreckage.  Here’s what I’ve got so far:

We are OK, because of things like seat belts and air bags.  Thanks for doing your jobs, good people of the Honda Safety Division!

My mother was supposed to be in the car with us, then for a few different reasons decided she couldn’t make the trip.  I was mad at first, now I’m incredibly relieved she wasn’t with us because no older lady needs to spin 360s in the right lane on I-95 southbound.  I need to remember to accept situations as they are, not as I want them to be.

Regardless of what is or is not as I want things to be, 2013 can still go fuck itself.

We were helped by a string of incredibly nice people, some of whom didn’t have to help, and all of whom didn’t have to be so nice.  Faith in humanity = shored up again.

This was one of those times when it became all to clear to me that we balance on the edge of a string.  And it doesn’t take all that much to get flung off the string or have is snap beneath you and send you hurtling into the abyss.  I’ve had a few other events like this in my life (the night a heater blew in an old apartment, the day I nearly got pulled out to sea in an undertow) and…while I don’t like to contemplate the abyss, I think it’s important to recognize those times that bring you perilously close to the edge, where you’re walking away under your own power simply because of a fingernail’s breadth worth of luck.

And so.  George and I are in the market for a new car, and it sucks but it’s OK.  I loved that car, but it was a car, and it sucks that it’s gone but it’s OK.  I’ll be wearing suspiciously high-collared shirts until the abrasion from the seat belt fades, and that’s OK.  And we’ll drive off in the morning sun in a rented minivan, which–trust me–is not my dream car.  But it’s OK.

Now go hug someone.  XOXO

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Posted by beyondpaisley

All email will be gleefully made fun of. Is beyond paisley a geographic ideal or a state of mind?

34 responses to Bye, Honda Fit. Thanks for everything!

  1. John Sweeney

    I’m so sorry to hear about your wreck and the Honda, but I am so very glad you both are OK! Love,

    John Sweeney

    Sent from my iPhone

    Like

    • beyondpaisley – Author

      Thanks for the love and well wishes, John! We’re so grateful for all the well wishes and good vibes we’ve gotten from our friends.

      XOXO

      Terri

      Like

  3. Ann Keeler Evans

    O, my goodness. Well, it’s a sign of how very thin my I’m ok veneer is. I’m sitting here weepy. Thank goodness the both of you’re ok. (and it’s just a little creepy that i’m reading about your accident and it starts to snow on your blog, but ok. sure.) Remember this: Take good care of yourself, you belong to me.

    Like

    • beyondpaisley – Author

      I have to say, I’ve been weepy since it happened. And George was magnificent through this entire thing. While the car was spinning, he kept saying, “It’s OK, you’re all right, we’ll get through this.” Much love all around. When we’re back you’re coming over for a coffee klatsch/heart to heart. I’m feeling all introspecty.

      Like

  5. marjorie

    I’m so glad you’re both okay! That must have been very scary. Pour yourself a nice drink–When you get there! And have a lovely time at the beach.

    Like

    • beyondpaisley – Author

      It sucked! LOL *sigh* I told my sister in law that I was planning on getting there, having an enormous glass of wine and letting someone else drive my butt around for the next four days.

      Like

  6. o2dryvfast

    Thank the Lord. How funny that we just had the same introspective conversation due to a few things happening to us that remind us that we are not in absolute control. Inside of each and every event there are meanings and lessons….sometimes you need the lesson and sometimes you are the tool. Glad to hear you are ”ok” 🙂

    Like

    • beyondpaisley – Author

      There was those internet memes that making the rounds that was supposedly (though I found out later, it was not) 20 bits of wisdom culled from the Dalai Lama. I don’t care that it wasn’t actually the DL; healthy and helpful philosophy should be absorbed when you come across it. One of the points on the list was “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” That stays with me. So I always try (often fail) to keep my sense of perspective open. But.

      That being said, I’d rather not have to buy a new car. But. Sigh. Thanks for the well wishes!

      Like

    • beyondpaisley – Author

      Lucky, and psychotically wide awake since 4 this morning. Yay for lucky, but I’d prefer to be sleeping. :/ Anyway. It does seem like a very nice van, though it’s four times larger than anything we normally drive.

      Like

      • beyondpaisley – Author

        Whenever someone asks me how a trip was, my objective is to be able to say it was “Uneventful”. For this very reason. Here’s to uneventful drives! LOL Anyway. Thanks for the kind words, and you have a wonderful Christmas too!

        Like

  8. Helen Peterson

    Woke up this AM with my first thoughts of you two with nothing but thankfulness and gratitude in my heart – then I saw the picture of your car and the thankfulness and gratitude became overwhelming and out of my control, Please consider yourselves hugged cuz that’s what would happen if I could be there. . Much love and concern going your way and I,, too, say “thank you” Honda Fit.
    ❤ ❤

    Like

  9. Deb

    So very relieved and thankful that you were able to walk away from this. Sending much love your way. Hugs to you both.

    Like

  11. Stephen Kelly Creative

    wow, bp … it was harrowing just reading that, let alone experiencing it! so glad you guys are alright!
    gotta agree with you … hey 2013 … go fuck yourself!!! then again, maybe that should of been expected in a year ending with the number 13.
    once again, glad you’re ok after your crash!

    Like

    • beyondpaisley – Author

      Thank you. It was seriously one of the worst things I ever experienced. Without getting too much into detail here, it’s really forced me to start to put some stuff into perspective. Glad to be alive.

      Like

    • beyondpaisley – Author

      Thanks. Yes, I know, we were incredibly lucky. I drive a LOT so I’m going to knock wood that this is the first major thing that’s happened. But holy crap, it sucked. :/ But we’re fine, so that’s good. Before I tie myself in knots…thanks so very much for the well-wishes.

      Like

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