Serenity defined
October 2, 2008
If you’ve never been to Nanny & Papaw’s house (my dad’s parents), then you’re missing out. I don’t get the chance to go there often enough now that I’m ‘grown’, but Dustin and I were able to make time to visit them a few weekends ago and although the trip was quick, it was worth it. The trips “to the lake” do several things for me — 1) they bring back such enamored memories — those filled with family, love, togetherness, fun summers in the water, cold winters in front of the fireplace, palatable Thanksgivings, ardent Christmases, perfervid Easters (of course because there were 3 cousins fighting over Easter eggs…Bobby, you should be glad we are all too old to egg hunt now!)…in all just feelings of cadency – normalcy, family. Secondly, trips to “the lake” give me a chance to escape – escape the every day stresses of life, of my job, of my every-day wifely duties – my trips help me escape and just be. When you wake up at Nanny & Papaw’s, it’s quiet…the hustle and bustle is gone…you look out the back door and see this…
I mean, how could you not lose yourself in the serenity expressed by that picture? Lastly, my trips to Nan & Pap’s house give me the opportunity to spend time with 2 of the most caring, loving, giving individuals that I know on this earth…my grandparents. I cannot express in words how much they mean to me and how much spending time with them fills my heart with happiness.
Evasive airbags
October 1, 2008
I don’t think airbags like my family — take for instance, the time my cousin’s car got hit so hard on the back quarter panel that it FLIPPED upside down on Interstate 410 near Starcrest…the result:
But no airbag – which baffled the paramedics and firemen dispatched to the scene. Fortunate for her, no major injuries. Then, there is today….as I’m giddily driving to my jeweler over my lunch break to pick up my engagement ring (they’ve had it for 3 weeks so they could make me a matching band for mine & Dustin’s 1 year anniversary), I turn to check traffic on my left side before merging into that lane, then turn back only to find a mini-van at a complete stop at the yield sign ahead — but by then it was too late and I was only about a car’s length behind the van…so I slammed on my breaks…braced for the worse…and SSSSCCRREEEEEEEEECH-WHAM-BHAM-CRUNCH-SLAM – the nose of my car was lodged in the van’s back bumper.
By all accounts (the policeman who worked the accident, the firemen who came to the scene, the paramedics who checked me out, and of course, my husband) – the airbag should have blown — even Peppy (that’s my car) had a red flashing airbag sign showing a stick figure sitting in a car’s seat with his hands in the air as the stick-airbag flew towards his body – blinking brightly on the instrument panel….but no airbag. We were advised not to drive the car to the body shop ourselves because the firemen were afraid that since the car already thought the airbag had gone off and because the sensors were visibly stirred, that it might actually deploy when we were driving it. That would have made the day even more interesting, but we decided against driving it and called a tow truck.
So, since lunch my day has been filled with insurance conversations (the adjuster, Entertprise rental car, doctors offices, etc.) — ok, ok, Dustin did most of the talking – thank goodness I have such a calm-headed husband who takes such authoritative and complete control in these situations – he really does make these things easier to deal with.
I guess I should get used to the jokes…Dustin has already said that it’s now “officially on record that he’s a better driver than I am” and that he’s going to make me drive a “junker” covered in pads on all sides…oh my…I’m just thankful there weren’t any major injuries (the woman and her 2 children in the van were checked my paramedics like I was and everything was ok). Now, I’m focussed on resting and recovering…quickly…because I leave for Vegas with my girls Friday afternoon!
*Update after the accident*
- Peppy, my car, sustained $6,700 worth of damage and will be in the ‘hospital’ (aka repair shop) for 10 to 14 days. The radiator and entire air conditioning system are being replaced as is the hood, the bumper, and the headlamps. The folks at U*S*A*A and at Ancira Body Shop (especially Erica & Robert) have been the nicest, most honest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing business with in a situation like this. It’s nice to know that some companies still care about the customer.
- My neck and back are doing well. I visited a trusted family chiropractor and homeopathic doctor the day of the accident and he was able to do some adjustments and muscle movements that gave me immediate relief of a headache I had developed during the course of all the commotion. The day after the accident and after seeing Dr. Kreitz, I expected to wake stiff and sore, as I had been told by the paramedics and friends that the day after is always the worst – after the muscles and body have had time to settle and react. Luckily though, Thursday morning brought only minor stiffness and pain in my neck. The pain I had felt in my upper back was already gone. I had another session with Dr. Kreitz Friday morning and have continued to feel better and regain flexibility in my neck as time has passed. Thank goodness these injuries were minor and that my body has been able to bounce back from the trauma so quickly!
Thanks to everyone for your phone calls, text messages, emails and food deliveries over the past few days – it means so much knowing I have such genuine friends and family – and know that if you ever need me, I’ll be right there by your side like you have been at mine.
