Sunday, October 19, 2014

The Confession

The alarm rang at 5:15 and I tumbled wearily out of bed, swapping my sleep shirt for a sweatshirt and throwing on a pair of jeans. Energized by the first gulp or two of Tab, I was ready to take Rick to the airport for a six-day trip to a small town outside of Vancouver where he was meeting with a client for a week.


He picked me up -- we'd take his car to the airport, partly because I was woefully low on gas. I dropped him off at he door, we kissed goodbye and as he walked into the terminal, I took off for home. It still wasn't really light out. And it was raining.

There was plenty of time to return the car to his house. Instead, I parked it in my driveway and settled into a day of doing all the things on my list: checking blogs, paying bills, scheduling appointments with the eye doc, the foot goddess and the colonoscopy people. I gave the kitchen a good going over and got the house decorated for fall. I was rolling!

It was one of the last opportunities to see the film "Life Itself," a documentary about film critic Roger Ebert (I gave it two thumbs up, by the way). And I had time to make it. I grabbed my purse, illegal water and a banana, hit the garage door opener and backed out of the garage with abandon.

I think you know where I'm going with this.


It could have been worse. But the damage was there in plain view. A super scrape. Or two. (I really don't know HOW the black one at the top happened).


My heart was in my throat. But there was nothing I could do so I went to the movie.


Let's just say I would have enjoyed this fabulous movie much more if my heart hadn't been pounding for the first two thirds. I was beginning to wonder if I should take myself to the ER after it was over. But, in the time from my house until the film started (and well into it, I might add), I figured out what to do.

First thing the next morning I would hit the body shop with his car. Leave it. Beg them to get it done by Monday (possibly with great futility) and mea culpa when he returned.

I just knew I couldn't tell him on the phone. In the first place, the car was recently bumped out and repaired from an incident that took place a long time ago but that was my fault. (Let's just say that if you're on a highway and you have to pee and you even think the ramp might have black ice on it, move very slowly on the exit.)

He hasn't been sleeping well, he's working in a different time zone and in a new environment with a client and possibly meeting potential new customers for his software system that he designed. I know Rick well enough to know that first, he would freak big time. And second, he wouldn't sleep, he'd be so worried. And there was nothing he could do about it.

Fortunately at the movie I ran into a good friend and her husband who said he'd had great experiences at one particular body shop, especially in the paint-matching department. So, it was off to them the first thing in the morning.


Well, as you might expect, they couldn't turn around a repair before Rick got home, but they can do it. It's not cheap. In fact, it was more than three mortgage payments. But my bad, my redemption.

(I discovered that the only thing free was the estimates!)


I made an appointment to return with the car, unfortunately after he was home, and when I picked him up I came clean. (That sounds filled with integrity but basically I had no choice.) And while it was a little bumpy initially, when I talked to him the next day from Canada where I had fled (not really! Long planned!), he was just amazingly wonderful.

I didn't tell him the full estimate but when I did say it was in four figures (after he said, "It should only be about five hundred, right?), he said don't do that. So I didn't. Yet.

When he's ready for it to be fixed, I'm good for it. But we'll look for a better deal or do a little less or whatever it takes. But right now I feel like the luckiest person in the world that he was so forgiving. (Because you see, to me, it looked or at least felt like it was totaled.



Besides, you should have seen the other guy! I'll add my scratches to my collection of dents and pings and soldier on!

27 comments:

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

Darn it! Ay yi yi, I hate it when things like that happen. It is amazing how fast those body shop repairs add up - I saw that when I got hit in the parking lot before leaving Charlotte. I am glad that Rick took the news well - I knew he would as it was an honest mistake. I think you were wise to not tell him over the phone, though. Especially since it sounded like a stressful week for him!

I hope you can find a shop that can do it for a more tolerable price! In the mean time, I am glad the damage is just cosmetic and doesn't impact his ability to drive the car!

Barb said...

Oy, Oy, Oy! This could have been worse - you could have been in an accident and gotten hurt. At least no bodily harm (to you) - well, maybe your psyche... Thank goodness Rick was understanding. I can see how it happened - in a hurry and not accustomed to having his car right there. Did you say you had Tab for breakfast?

Esme said...

I like a friend that is understanding-stuff happens and it is only a car. Oops.

skiourophile said...

Argh! And isn't it *terrifying* how much a few little dings cost! Confessing always feels good though. Afterwards, at least! :-)

littleRamstudio said...

Been there, done that.
It was when we lived in Germany, I was leaving a car park, in a very low sports car. Didn't see the concrete post, oops! Had quite an audience of bemused men, all smirking at my crunch.
Slowly drove home, dreading picking Gary up in bashed car. He was fine about it. We both ended up pranging that car!
Heather :)

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Thank GOD it wasn't worse my friend! Wow, what a day you had with an adrenaline rush! But now you can relax, maybe watch the documentary again, and move on...slowly! YIKES!

Tracy said...

Oh, my goodness, Jeanie!! :o/ But, yes, thankfully this was not worse, that you are safe and unharmed, and that the car is fixable... And so good Rick took it like a champ. ;o) Whew... Be safe! ((LOVE & HUGS))

I need orange said...

Ouch!

I know how it feels to scrape your own car -- how much worse to scrape someone else's.

Sending sympathy!

Joanne Huffman said...

((hugs)) to you and Rick.

Anonymous said...

Good lord, what's next? Lol.

Sally Tharpe Rowles said...

Oh dear….at least the movie was good!

Sally Tharpe Rowles said...
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Sally Tharpe Rowles said...
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Bella Rum said...

Oh, no! I know you felt awful. It's so easy to forget that the car is there when it's not usually there. We are creatures of habit. I could never has sat still in the movie.

Mary said...

Oh yes, it could have been worse, and the more important thing is that you weren't hurt! And good for Rick for being so wonderful. :)

Jeanie said...

I am glad it all ended well...I keep thinking about how you felt at the moment of impact.

Jennifer Richardson said...

first, the illegal water and banana made me grin wide:)
(I so do that)
and much more importantly, I'm
OH so glad you're alright!!!
Glad the heart pounding slowed
and you were able to see the show
and that your life (precious that it is!) is intact.
You're far more important than the car damage.
Peace to you in the process,
Jennifer

psychelyn said...

In the top of it all is the blessing to have a forgiving husband. At least no one got hurt and the damage isn't really that bad. Though it costed you, you can always gain it back later.

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

I am just so glad you are ok.
blessings,
Penny

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Ouch! Accidents to happen and at least with this one no one was physically hurt, but that doesn't make it any less stressful. A few years ago, my husband backed his car out of the garage and neglected to open the garage door. He was used to parking in the driveway, but had is car in the garage that day. Oops, good thing it wasn't me, lol.

Janet said...

Isn't it great when guys are understanding? Things happen. And it isn't the end of the world...just a scrape on a car.

Be happy that Rick is such a good guy.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Hello sweet Jeanie! I hope you are well today and all is settled! Thank you so much for coming by to visit! Have a great day...Anita

Anonymous said...

Oh, no! I sure to hate this happened. Hope you're feeling okay. These things can really upset us. But just so glad to know it was ust an accident and you're okay!
Hope this week is glorious.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

~*~Patty S said...

Glad no one was hurt but oh boy this is definitely NOT what you want to have happen any time!
oxo

Marilyn Miller said...

Oh No! Be assured we have all done something like this, maybe not exactly this, but something we regret.

shoreacres said...

Oh, gosh. At least when my Princess was whacked, it was by a guy backing out of his parking spot. It was clearly his fault, and that meant his insurance paid for the repairs. I can't remember what it cost, exactly, but I know it was in four figures. Around $2K, I think. Of course, he managed to take out the back door AND the read fender, so that made it even worse. Like you, it was scrape more than crunch, but that doesn't make any difference to the people toting up the bill.

It took me a while to figure out the "illegal water." Now I get it. Banana's good, too, except for the fragrance. Someone might report you to the gendarmes!

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

Oh Jeanie
I know that feeling!!!
I even felt my blood pressure rise a little while reading your account!
You dealt with it very well - a movie theatre is the perfect place to mull things over and work out a plan!!!!
In the big scheme of things - it is only a car and not life threatening.
Life goes on, anxiety diminishes and Rick forgives you!
You're an excellent story teller dear Jeanie:)

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