Bump from Behind

When I was learning how to drive, I had a minor accident involving a narrow road, the curb, and a road sign. The basic story is that I was freaked out by a giant truck in the oncoming lane and overestimated how far I should have been away from him. I also underestimated the amount of road left on my side. Alignment fixing aside, it was traumatic mostly in the guilt trip I received from my parents, and I’ve been lucky to avoid any other altercations since then.

And then today, I was rear-ended on the way to work. Everything’s fine, I’m fine – it’s not a big deal. I was on a small, country road that sort of drops onto a busier artery, and as I looked way to the left to see if anyone was coming, I was bumped from behind, and it scared the bejeezus out of me. I unleashed this primitive shriek (probably reminiscent of my mother’s shrieking when I mowed across the curb at the previous accident site) and slowly edged out to the shoulder. Upon examination, my bumper seemed undamaged, with the exception of some blue paint transfer, as the CSI folks might say.

The girl in the car behind me turned her engine off and walked toward me in a turquoise Victoria’s Secret PINK sweat suit, apologizing the whole way: “I just wasn’t paying attention!” She was my age at the most and we both shifted uncomfortably as we surveyed the lack of wreckage. When the girl gave me her information, I realized that she lives in my neighborhood, and it is so strange that I was hit a half hour from my house by a person whose road I pass everyday.

I understand more why whiplash can occur so frequently, even if there is minimal or no damage during an accident. I’m not playing the whiplash card, and I’m not suing anyone, but I have to say that my neck and head feel a little funky right now. The bump to my car felt huge, and I was jostled in my seat; I can’t imagine how an actual accident feels and sounds. I was a defensive driver before today, and let’s just say that I left a lot more space between the next car and me when I pulled back onto the road.

All things considered, the car is running normally, and I got gas for $2.39/gallon, so it’s not all bad.