shootingshooting

I figured since it's a new year and I've got a new camera lens, a new blog, and an odd compulsion to blog about things, the potential for a new (to me) vehicle deserved mention. I loved that car. I got it back in 06, my junior year of college, when my Monte Carlo decided to drop its transmission on Hillsborough Street. Since then, I've put almost 40k miles on it. Last month I spent almost $500 getting the timing belt serviced, water pump replaced, etc. Good thing I was stringent with the maintenance schedule. 

The car was done in this morning by a guard rail on I40-East. I was on my way to work. I was driving more responsibly than usual. I wasn't drumming, eating or talking on the phone. The oddest thing of all is that for some reason I decided not to listen to music. I was simply driving in silence, hands at 10 and 2. I remember having to swerve, as if to avoid something (details for this moment are less than vivid). I overcompensated and started to slide. Instantly recalling the quality education provided by my high school driving instructor in our school's cafeteria, I turned the wheel appropriately. Unfortunately it was already too late, and some type of impact was imminent. Because I turned the wheel, I avoided being turned completely around into oncoming traffic. Instead, I hit the wall dead-on at interstate speeds. Honestly, I am not sure which would have been the more favorable outcome. Both airbags deployed and I can enthusiastically say that they did their job. If it hadn't been for the airbag and my seatbelt I imagine there would have been more than just a State Trooper on the scene. Luckily traffic was light and there were no other vehicles involved in the collision. After hitting the rail, my car bounced back into traffic. My engine, smoking and spewing various fluids, had just enough life in it to get me to the shoulder. 

While waiting for the wrecker to come and take my car away, a van pulled up and talked to the Trooper. They said I was cut off by a vehicle, which is what had caused me to swerve. These guys in the van followed the guy and got his tag number before coming to telling the Trooper what happened. I'm not sure what their efforts will amount to for me, if anything, but I'm still thankful that they decided to try and help. 

Hey, the blog can only get better from here, right?