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14 Feb 10 - 11:02 PM (#2839463) Subject: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: alanabit Compared to some of the crap other Catters are having to deal with at the moment, this is pretty trivial stuff. We were given an Opel Vectra just before Christmas by the father of a friend, who had to give up his driving licence. It was twelve years old and had less than forty thousand on the clock. I wrote it off this afternoon along with another car. The other driver was coming in the opposite direction and seemed suddenly to attempt a U turn. In normal conditions, this would probably have worked, but there was compressed snow in the middle of the road and he simply skidded in front of me. I was doing less than thirty mph at the time, but I never had a chance. My fourteen year old daughter, Merle, was in the passenger seat and Ina behind me. Fortunately no one was badly hurt, although we had to go to hospital, where the X-rays showed no serious damage to Ina, but slight stiffening due to whiplash. She is hurting from her bruises though. The driver in the other vehicle and his girlfriend were shocked but unhurt. Ironically, the purpose of our journey had been to take some flowers and cake to the couple, who had given us the car! The accident was some fourteen hours ago, but I am no James Bond and feel both shaken and stirred. Cars come and go, but families are something you have to value a bit more. This afternoon was a timely reminder of just how much I have and just how quickly it can all be taken away. I guess that is something to be grateful for. |
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14 Feb 10 - 11:05 PM (#2839466) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: Tinker Thanksgiving for the safety of all involved. Give both of your ladies an extra hug from the catters across the pond tonight. |
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14 Feb 10 - 11:08 PM (#2839469) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: maeve Alan- I am so grateful there were no serious injuries; even more so that you and your family are safe and together. It is frightening to be in such a bad accident. You will all feel safe again, although it may take each of you a different span of time. maeve |
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14 Feb 10 - 11:24 PM (#2839477) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: open mike glad you came thru...will there be insurance settlement to cover your costs?? (and perhaps replace the vehicle?) |
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14 Feb 10 - 11:37 PM (#2839484) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: alanabit There should be something, but for the time being I shall just fill in the forms and be grateful that I still have my ladies! Thanks for your good wishes everyone. |
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14 Feb 10 - 11:39 PM (#2839487) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: katlaughing So very grateful you are all okay. The shock of a near miss can have a strong effect and is a good reminder to be glad of what we have. That's sad about your car, but cars are replaceable. You are one of a kind, my friend, as well as your family. Truly thanksgivings are in order. luvyakat |
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15 Feb 10 - 12:03 AM (#2839497) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: mousethief I'm so sorry this happened, and so glad things were no worse than they turned out. O..O =o= |
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15 Feb 10 - 01:39 AM (#2839520) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: Stilly River Sage You're all going to hurt like hell tomorrow and for a few days. As they say, "don't make any important decisions" if you're all on pain medication during this time. You might do well to let the insurance forms stay unsigned until you're alert enough to catch any small print that gives away all of your rights. Just a thought. Get over it all soon, and I'm glad the damage wasn't worse. SRS |
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15 Feb 10 - 07:45 AM (#2839723) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: jacqui.c Having een through something similar I know how frightening it can be. I also know, from many years as an injury claims negotiator, how much whiplash can hurt the day or so after the event. My thoughts are going out for a swift physical and psychological recovery from this incident for you both. |
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15 Feb 10 - 07:51 AM (#2839734) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Sending comforting, healing thoughts- wish I could send some of my favorite arnica massage oil along with it! What a scary thing- May your women and you recover emotionally as well as physically, with help from each other. |
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15 Feb 10 - 08:00 AM (#2839741) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: LilyFestre Hey Alan, You said, "families are something you have to value a bit more. This afternoon was a timely reminder of just how much I have and just how quickly it can all be taken away. I guess that is something to be grateful for." I am in absolute agreement. Nothing is more important than your family and the ones you love. I'm thankful that you are all ok. Hug each other tight. Much love, Michelle |
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15 Feb 10 - 08:39 AM (#2839776) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: Bat Goddess Been through it -- low speed on a snow-impaired road, but alone in the car. My car "drifted" (wouldn't respond to gentle swerve to the right) into a school bus. No damage at all to the bus. My crumpled fender on an older car meant I needed to get a new car (without help from insurance money). Crept home that morning, had the fender pulled out on the way (it was rubbing the tire) and didn't even attempt to go to work. (I had been halfway there.) My boss just couldn't understand that, though physically fine, I was in no condition to drive the 30 miles to work or to actually WORK that day. I vowed never again to jeopardize my life or my vehicle for a mere job. If I shouldn't be on the road, I'm NOT. Thank goodness you and yours are safe and unscathed. Cars can be replaced. Whiplash can be more serious than you think, but hope it turns out just an achey day. Thinking about you. Linn |
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15 Feb 10 - 09:34 AM (#2839832) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: olddude Alan Thank God, I am so glad you and yours are ok, like you said cars can be replaced, loved ones cannot .. Dan |
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15 Feb 10 - 09:36 AM (#2839835) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: Wesley S My near miss was named Michelle.Thank God I married the woman I did. And I'm glad to hear y'all are OK. |
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15 Feb 10 - 10:27 AM (#2839889) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: fat B****rd Best thoughts from Dunfermline, Alan. |
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15 Feb 10 - 10:35 AM (#2839900) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: SINSULL Bet you are all hurting today. Celebrate your escape from any terrible harm. Sounds like you need to thank the car for protecting you all. Glad you are OK. SINS |
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15 Feb 10 - 04:39 PM (#2840274) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: alanabit Thanks everyone. I am glad I do not work for an oaf like the one you did Linn. As it happened, I had already had a near miss in the morning yesterday. I was coming to the end of a street, doing about fifteen to twenty, when another car took the corner too fast and skidded across on to my side of the road. We both stopped a centimetre or two off a crash. I only had to round the next corner and park outside my house. However, my left foot was shaking so much, that I pulled into the first open space, because I could not be confident of controlling the clutch enough to manouevre properly. The road where the crash did occur was free of snow apart from the very middle. I will be going to the doctor for a check up in the morning. I usually have tension in my neck and shoulders anyway - especially when I have not been training properly. A recent ligament injury - the third on the same foot in two and a half years - has stopped that for the time being. So it would be a bit hasty to attribute any tension in my neck to whiplash. Still, I am bearing in mind that there are folks up and down the country this weekend who are also getting news of traffic accidents - and many of them would have been getting worse news than us. I reckon snow is best kept for Christmas cards and polar bears! |
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15 Feb 10 - 11:57 PM (#2840594) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: Gurney About 40 years ago, I hit two pedestrians in a single weekend. Neither was seriously hurt, and I was found blameless both by the police and my future wife, but the memory is evergreen! The look of alarm on their faces as the big green motorcar scrubbed its tyres towards them! Alan, you have a memory for life. I'm happy that there is no need for a memorial. |
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16 Feb 10 - 12:23 AM (#2840606) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: catspaw49 Alan my old friend, I am so very happy that you and your family came away in reasonably good shape. It obviously could have been really bad. As I write this Karen has been gone only a few minutes on her usual 45 mile trip to work each night and as usual I worry til she arrives there and then repeat in the morning. Tonight the entire area has gotten another 8 inches of snow on top of the 18 previously on the ground making this one of those nail biter nights. Family is all their is and I can easily appreciate how you feel tonight. The world was so much simpler when we were younger and single and unaware of the mortality of others or our own. Give both of them a hug for me.....softly of course.....then one for yourself as well. Much Love, Pat |
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16 Feb 10 - 04:01 PM (#2841216) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: paula t Alan, I've only just read this. Thank goodness you are all ok! If that was me , I'd be hugging my girls and finding it hard to let go of them. A parent's worst fears. Again, a relief that you are all safe. love, Paula xx |
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16 Feb 10 - 05:52 PM (#2841337) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: alanabit Pat, what you wrote brings home to me that the time to be grateful is every single day. In a way, the best thing to come out of this is that it has done us so much good, when it could have done us so much harm. Thanks again everyone. |
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16 Feb 10 - 06:02 PM (#2841353) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: katlaughing Alan, you all would do well to have your backs x-rayed. I had a new driver, 16 years old, broadside me when she ran a stop sign. I was a year older with a four-month old and puppy in the car. No baby seats back then. My son rolled onto the floor in his blankies, the dog growled at the cops who tried to help, my Coke spilled all over me. I *thought* I was okay and I knew my son and the dog were. I have regretted that youthful foolishness for years as I have a numb spot on my spine from it..sometimes it hurts, but it's mostly numb. I've always had tight back, shoulder, and neck muscles,(except when I do qi gong) but they don't cause any numbness! Good health to you all, regardless. kat |
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16 Feb 10 - 06:10 PM (#2841359) Subject: RE: BS: Reflections on a near miss From: GUEST,999 Alan, I am happy you are fine (shorts can be washed). |