new experiences

After ten years behind the wheel of a car, I've had my first accident.

I'm sitting at a stoplight, minding my own business -- fortunately with nobody in front of me -- and then there's an ungodly bang and my head snaps forward. First thought: the hell? Glance in rearview mirror. See grille of enormous pickup truck, looking way closer than it ought to. Second thought: uhhhh, what do I do now?

See, I don't even remember being in an accident, with someone else driving. I know my parents have had a few, but if any of them were with me in the car, I was too young to recall. So now I'm getting to discover the exciting world of insurance claims. I don't feel particularly hurt (though I'm getting a neck massage in an hour or so, to be on the safe side, and I took some Advil). My bumper's a little dented, maybe a little askew, but the bad news is the trunk: I got rammed by one of those oversized pickups, and some bit of its front end managed to slam into my trunk lid and dent it forward. I have a feeling that's one of those things that doesn't look so bad but will cost a bloody fortune to fix. <sigh>

Not what I wanted to have happen with my afternoon. I think I'm going to curl up on the couch with one of my new books as consolation.