You know how I’ve said that we’re the type of people who don’t sue over anything?! Well, it’s more true than even I realized. I could wring my husband’s neck when he finally told me this. I was so scared and angry, I couldn’t even see straight. Remember on our last vacation we were to leave on a Thursday and it was delayed until the following Tuesday due to RV problems? The night before we were to leave (Wed.), something happened that could have turned out VERY differently.
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I’ll tell the story the way I found out…That Thurs. afternoon after we found out we were staying home, hubby and I were walking our 3 dogs. I have Amber on a leash and Ivy & Elvis are on a leash with Greg. The sidewalk isn’t quite large enough to accomodate the 2 of us and the 3 dogs to walk side by side for very long. So I usually (but not always) go first with Greg following close enough behind so we can talk. We were almost through with our walk (maybe 4 blocks from home) and Greg was lagging behind. He’d been lagging a bit all day and I couldn’t figure out if he was just tired or down from the disappointment of not going on vacation. So I asked him, “How come you’re having trouble keeping up with me today?” and he yells at the top of his lungs in a very defensive tone, “BECAUSE I GOT HIT BY A CAR YESTERDAY!” I stopped in my tracks. “WHAT?!” I didn’t know if he was joking or serious. “WHEN? WHERE?” “HOW?” I asked. He started to explain and I couldn’t stop thinking about why he didn’t tell me. He said he knew it would upset me and didn’t want to ruin my vacation!! OMG. My vacation was already “ruined” from not being able to go…
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When I got the details, I could see why he didn’t tell me because I would have torn him a new asshole. Greg works in a huge building complex with lots of tall office buildings. There’s a 6 story parking ramp he has to park in that has a street you cross to get there from his building. The street is not a regular street, it is inside the complex, only people going to or from those buildings use it and they are used to pedestrians crossing all the time and there is a very low speed limit and stop signs, etc. Greg was leaving work that night on the “high” that only comes from knowing you don’t have to be back to work for 10 days! He stepped into the street and saw a car coming at him and instead of slowing down, the car speeded up! He said it happened so fast, he couldn’t get out of the way. My hubby’s feet weren’t planted firmly on the ground because if they were, the car would’ve broken his legs when it hit him. He was lifting them as he was walking so when the car hit him, he flew onto the hood rolled across and landed on the ground on his back/ side. He was sore and bruised but no head injury or broken bones. The guy was a 20-something that was texting as he was driving!!! The guy asked if he was ok and he said he was and the guy said he didn’t see Greg. It wasn’t dark out yet and Greg weighs 300 lbs. so he’s hard to miss. But if you’ve got your nose in your phone… Greg said he left dents in the hood of the guy’s car he was hit so hard.
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So at this point of hearing the story, I’m angry and shouting and when you hear the next part, you’ll wonder how the entire world didn’t hear me carrying on. I asked him if he called the cops and he said NO. “What?!” Greg didn’t want to take the time since he knew he’d have to wait for them to arrive, make a statement, do paperwork, etc. He just wanted to get home so he could pack and get ready for vacation. Besides, he wasn’t hurt so he didn’t bother. I was livid. The fact that this punk kid GETS AWAY WITH HITTING SOMEONE WITH HIS CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS TO HIM FOR IT. Why that idiot deserves a free pass is beyond me! It should go on his record!! He’s going to do this again and really injure somebody, maybe kill them! I am a super cautious driver and have always been afraid of even bumping someone and getting sued. I’ve known people who weren’t really hurt but said they were just to get a settlement. I wouldn’t want Greg to lie and say he was hurt if he wasn’t but not all injuries show up right away. It takes a few days sometimes. I said, “At least you got the guy’s name and phone number, right?!” No, he didn’t.
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So this is why he didn’t tell me. Because he knew I wouldn’t like it. After my initial anger wore off, I started thinking how our whole lives could have changed in an instant. If Greg had gotten knocked onto his noggin, he could be like his brother Brian who had the head injury earlier this year slipping on his kitchen floor. Then he’d never be the same person again, couldn’t work or hold any job, couldn’t function in any real way, etc. Or worse still, he could’ve been killed by that idiot and here I’d sit being a widow. Just thinking of that has me paralyzed with fear. I don’t think of him dying at all because we’ve been together over 30 years now and I wouldn’t know what to do next if he wasn’t here. I mean I could live a few weeks with him gone like when he travels but not indefinitely without him or his presence. It’s not even everything he does for me which is a lot. It’s that here I’d be with Mom and 3 dogs which is more than I can handle alone.
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So I’ve tried to feel grateful that we dodged a bullet (or a car). But Greg knows the real lucky one is that guy driving. If I had been with him and saw this, I’d have dragged (drug?) him from the car and beaten him and I’d probably be in jail. I’m not a fan of violence but when that level of stupidity is employed, I believe something is needed to get through to someone like that. At least it gave us a new answer to the question, “How are you feeling this morning?” “Like I was hit by a car.” ;-} I made him promise if this ever happens again, to call the police NO MATTER WHAT. God forbid it happens again!!
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Oh, my giddy aunt! What a close call for Greg – I’m so glad he is OK. Yes, you are right to be angry with that stupid young man, he could do with more than a slap on the wrist.
I’m not sure how we as a society get people to stop using mobile phones (cell phones) whilst driving. Our governments are using a stick approach and that just doesn’t work. I wonder what would happen if the carrot approach would make a difference, i.e. all the people who turn off their phones whilst driving get a reduction in their car registration fees and all the people who do use them have to pay more for theirs. If they are caught more than three times talking on their phones whilst driving, their car is impounded for a month. I have no idea if this would work – I’m just making it up as a go along.
Oh well, the main thing is, Greg is not badly hurt. I hope he gets over his bruising soon. Wish him good health from me. I wish you calm and serenity with no more shocking bombshells. You have enough to worry about.
Tez, thank you for popping in with your kind words. I like your idea of rewarding cellphone users for not using while driving. Many in the USA use the GPS for directions so don’t know if it would only show using that or if it would look the same as texting. I guess there are many laws that people choose not to obey at any cost. Some still rebel against seatbelts here but in that case they’re only hurting themselves if they choose not to wear them. Despite large fines, some still take the chance and use handicapped parking spaces even if not handicapped (you have to display a placquard). Greg & I were discussing if the next generation of young people are “worse” as far as how they treat others and their feeling of entitlement. I think they are but Greg says that ALL the generations before us felt that way about the new generation of young people. Since the dawn of time, they think society is going to hell in a handbasket. Maybe we’re both right! 😉