Vehicle for Sale

Going cheap: 2005 Xtrail. Deep green with tan leather interior. Dependable. Always starts in the dead of winter.  Roomy. Low maintenance. Comfortable. Heated seats.  All of the electric bells and whistles work. Clean. The only thing wrong is it’s CURSED!  

One year ago this weekend I did a solo spin on an icy road and caused $8500 in damage to the front end by striking a guardrail.  Then there’s the damage I did to my neck in the form of whiplash which I only very recently felt I was getting over.

Yesterday I was exiting the Agriplex parking lot after bringing coffee to the team setting up for the motorcycle show in bright, clear and dry conditions when a car came zooming out between rows of parked vehicles and smashed me in the front end.  Again.  While the damage isn’t as severe it is certainly similar.  The lights dangled. The hood is all up where it shouldn’t be. The lovely year-old paint is scratched up.

This is where I have to admit I’m not proud of myself. I was furious. I got out of my vehicle, the other driver got out of his, and I yelled a few unladylike words to him.  I truly believe I would have calmed down had he not kept saying, “I had the right of way.”

He did not.  I was on the “road” part of the lot approaching a stop sign at the adjoining road.  He was traveling between rows of cars and didn’t even slow down to see if the way was clear to cross.  Still, through the whole ordeal, he maintained he was in the right.  However he was calm.  I was agitated.  I didn’t even ask him if he was alright.  He was. My neck was jostled and it aches. It will take a few days before I know for sure what’s what. We exchanged information. I called hubby who came and took photos of both cars and taped up my head and signal lights. I said “I sort of lost it on the guy” and hubby just shrugged.  You’ve got to LOVE that kind of support!

In my adrenaline rush I called police who basically hung up on me after telling me there was no point in going to the collision reporting centre at dinnertime.  I went anyway. It was a 2 minute drive away and virtually empty at the time.  They took care of my situation in about 20 minutes and the other driver never did show up.  He has 24 hours. I hope he has had a moment to reflect on his brain fart.  The cop said I was in the right and there’s no way to spin it otherwise. His insurance will have to cover my damage.

One year to the day!  It’s astounding really. So I’m going to get the Xtrail fixed and then seriously look at buying another vehicle.  I have to disclose that it’s been in accidents and I will. But the way I look at it, it’s also been rebuilt as new at the front end – twice!  Someone, somewhere will no doubt look at it that way too.