“This would make a great blog post” was NOT the first thing that went through my mind this afternoon as my car slid off of I-84, ran down an embankment, and crashed into a tree. It wasn’t even the second thing I thought. (That was “are my legs still here?”) The first thought, for the record, was “holy shit, I survived that.”
It was followed by a couple of other thoughts:
“Is the car going to explode?”
“Will another car slide off the same place in the road and crash into me?”
“Why is the airbag still inside the steering wheel?”
“I should probably try to open this door.”
“Funny, this accident made the brights indicator go on.”
“Damn, that stupid OnStar commercial was right, my cell phone did go flying in this crash.”
“I still don’t regret not paying for OnStar, because here is my cell phone at my feet. Next to my smashed sunglasses. Damn, I liked those sunglasses.”
“I bet I can get out the passenger side. I am going to get out of the passenger side. I wish the 911 lady would stop asking me for information so I can do this now.”
“I think I will walk up the hill very far from the highway made of ice while talking to the nice 911 lady.”
“How convenient that I got into an accident while trying to avoid another accident. The ambulance is already here.”
Hi, my chest hurts, can I please use that ambulance? <– I actually said that out loud to the guy with the flares.
It wasn’t until the ambulance took me to the hospital and I talked to my mother, my boss, and my friend who could give me a ride home that I realized I should update my Facebook status. And then I thought maybe I should blog about this, because being in the hospital was keeping me from eating leftover Chicken Pot Pie.
Actually, that’s not true. The fact that my office building caught on fire at lunchtime and we all had to evacuate and leave early, without lunch, is what kept me from Chicken Pot Pie. And what sent me driving home at 1:15 in the afternoon in the middle of a snowstorm. (For the record, the office is fine. It was our furnace that caught on fire, and off of the main building. They put the fire out, but had to leave because the heat was off, and the whole place smelled like gas.) The office should be open tomorrow, and I could go there tomorrow. if there wasn’t an elm tree in the middle of my engine.
Good news/bad news about this day? Let’s start with the good:
I am totally fine. Nothing is broken. I am bruised in my chest and on my foot, which got pinned somehow, but the hospital saw me and released me quickly. They still put an IV in for some reason, and where they stuck me hurts the most.
Last week, I lost one of my two electronic door keys, the ones that are wicked expensive to replace. Now I don’t need it anymore!
Also, my tires needed replacing. Now they’re the most valuable thing in the car!
Glad I put off that oil change.
I have awesome friends, who offered rides, food, and moral support, and that was just from one facebook update.
I don’t have to go networking tomorrow… But I like networking, and I was hoping to make some good contacts.
Bad news:
I just filled the car with gas.
And had it inspected two weeks ago.
I really liked that car, and purchased it at a time when I made money and had good credit. Not sure what my current situation buys me, but I don’t think it’s going to be as cute.
Feelings of regret for taking the highway instead of the side roads. I really thought it would be safer.
My insurance covers collision, but not rental cars.
They don’t make Saturns anymore.
I literally became a treehugger.
But I got to blog about it!
nancypearlwannabe said,
February 16, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Oh no! I’m so glad you’re okay! The poor little Saturn. I hope you are feeling okay and you’re not too shaken up. At least you have chicken pot pie at home to cheer you up?
Also, good news: you didn’t break your ankle again!
If I broke my ankle again, I would have throttled someone.
-R- said,
February 16, 2010 at 11:36 pm
I’m so glad you’re ok.
The insurance should pay for a nice enough car, shouldn’t it?
A wasted tank of gas- aargh!
Again, glad you’re ok.
I think the car’s worth more than I owe, so that’s something.
hillary said,
February 16, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I’m very happy that you are okay.
Thanks. Me too.
heidikins said,
February 17, 2010 at 12:01 am
Ohmygoodness, you have such composure! such clarity! You shall be my number one call when in crisis–okay, number two; 911 will be first.
I am so glad that you are alright, and I really hope you get some good rest and relaxation in.
Loves,
xox
I actually shocked myself at how calm I felt. There just didn’t seem to be time to panic.
kir said,
February 17, 2010 at 12:58 am
Wow, so glad you escaped injury free! Now you can top the next person that tells you they had to evacuate work because of fire. Mmmm Chicken Pot Pie.
It was a day.
Knot said,
February 17, 2010 at 5:15 am
Glad you are ok. I’m always curious what people think just before a crash. Last one I remember was, “Well… going to hit him.” A friend told me he thought, “I just bought that burrito.”
Glad you are ok.
I think the last thing I thought was “no, NO, NOOOO, NO!” and “oh look, a tree.”
Pam said,
February 17, 2010 at 8:51 am
I’m glad you are OK!
I think all cars should come with OnStar.
I know how you feel about the gas tank regret.
I wish OnStar wasn’t so expensive on a monthly basis.
Dan said,
February 17, 2010 at 10:40 am
Very happy to hear you are okay. I enjoyed reading all the thoughts you had after the accident – though I’m surprised you remembered them
.
I bet you can find a used Saturn. I put new tires on my car 6 months before a state inspection revealed how unhealthy my car’s necessities were – timing can really suck sometimes
All those thoughts got logged like a diary. It’s odd. And I may be done with Saturn, even though I was happy with how well it protected me.
Courtney said,
February 17, 2010 at 11:21 am
Good lord, that is scary. I’m glad you escaped with only a few bruises. Please eat all the chicken pot pie you want while you’re recovering.
You don’t need to tell me twice! I’m an eating machine…
badger reader said,
February 17, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Quite calm and composed! So grateful you are not seriously injured, so bummed about your cute car! It is so bizarre what thoughts go through our heads before/during/after accidents. (I was rather hysterical towards the paramedics who wanted to cut off my ski jacket after my wreck.)
I have no idea how it happened, but my good coat got ripped all up the side, and when I discovered it in the ambulance, I was super bummed.
bing said,
February 17, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Wow, that is so scary. I’m glad to hear that you weren’t seriously injured. It’s pretty weird how your airbag didn’t come out. My friend rolled into a prisoner detail van one time and her airbag came out. She was maybe going 25-30 mph. Bizarre.
Jessica said,
February 17, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Holy shit! So glad you survived bruised but not broken. You are the champ of looking for the bright / funny side, and quite good at it. Hope you get an enjoyable bit of vacation out of it!
Poppy said,
February 17, 2010 at 6:07 pm
CRAZY! So glad you’re ok!
And, ok, so you might not have as awesome of credit/money to pay, but it will be fun to have a different car! Right? right? hmm.
Kate said,
February 17, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Oh no! I’m glad you’re ok. Sorry to hear about your car and the wasted gas. Isn’t it weird when the littlest change to your day creates such havoc?
Good news, new car smell is coming your way!
Kristabella said,
February 18, 2010 at 12:25 pm
I’m so glad you are OK! How scary!
I got into an accident about 3 days after moving to California back in 1999. And my insurance didn’t cover rental cars either. Since that day, I have paid extra month for a rental car because it is so worth it!
Howling Hill said,
February 19, 2010 at 10:27 am
If the paramedics gave you the IV they did so because it was protocol not necessarily because you needed fluids. If the hospital gave you the IV I can’t figure out why. When I’m finished with my clinicals come December I may be able to answer the question better.
Like everyone I’m glad to hear you escaped without injury. I would be very sad if you stopped blogging again, we only just got you back.
The reason the airbag didn’t come out is because you didn’t hit the tree straight on. I’m thinking you hit the tree at an angle. That’s my theary anyways.
Grey Boy said,
February 21, 2010 at 5:54 pm
‘Last week, I lost one of my two electronic door keys, the ones that are wicked expensive to replace. Now I don’t need it anymore!’
Sometimes, like with the phys ed requirement at UR, procrastinating pays off.
Glad you’ll be back to full flutter soon.
Dingo said,
February 21, 2010 at 10:50 pm
I am so glad you are okay! And why didn’t your airbag inflate?
SisterAlyson said,
February 22, 2010 at 1:06 pm
you should post the picture that you texted me.
Allie said,
February 23, 2010 at 10:29 am
So glad you’re okay! What a day! I’m sorry your car is done for. And with a full tank of gas!
mickey said,
February 24, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Maybe the side roads would have been worse. Glad you’re okay.
What do they do with the gas in wrecked cars? Do you think the tow truck drivers siphon it off for personal use? Or donate it to orphans? I’ve never thought about it.
jennifer said,
March 2, 2010 at 9:19 am
Good grief Noelle! I’m SO sorry that happened! I’ve been in numerous car accidents (and now you see why my dad makes me look at wrecked cars… I have a bad history). The soreness after the crash was always the worst – it made me feel a hundred years old.
I’m proud of you for listing positive things first. It’s hard to not focus on the inconvenience and expense involved. Sounds as though the wreck could have been worse (glad the car hit straight on instead of rotating to the right causing the impact to be on the driver side). Cars can be replaced, bloggers cannot.