Yesterday,

[la_marquise]

My inner idiot got a workout yesterday. Ho hum. I went into town to do various jobs, but when I parked in my usual car park, I discovered that although I had the right amount for the fee, the spanking new ticket machines didn't take £2 coins, so I couldn't pay, which meant leaving and finding space elsewhere. I was reversing out when a speedy type in a red fiesta came roaring in behind me, right into where I was about to turn, so I turned tighter and reversed neatly into another parked car. My fault: I should have been much more alert, and worrying about fiesta man is not an excuse. The net result was a dent in the other car, a split in my rear bumper and me feeling like a total waste of space. (I do not handle failure of perfection in myself at all well. I may be obsessive about my good-girlness.) Anyway, I left a note with my phone number on the other car, and went off to do chores in fear and self-loathing, and feeling very shaky. At this point I was anticipating Huge Drama, major financial disaster and all things dire, because, as we know, I am great at catastrophising.
I was lucky: the other driver turns out to be a delightful gentleman, who phoned me for insurance details and was not in the least angry or unkind, and on whom I wish lifelong blessings. The insurance people were nice about it, too. This is my first real claim in 20 years, and I've never hit anyone before, so maybe they could afford to be nice. (And I have a protected no claims bonus, so I won't be facing a huge hike in insurance costs, hopefully.) And the car is fine, just a bit chewed about the bumper (the other car is likewise only slightly dented: this was a 5 mph or less collision).
I still feel like an idiot, though. Years of practice tell me to turn this into yet another example of the universe rounding on me for getting above myself. I'm resisting. The universe has much better things to do, for a start. And things do happen. All the same... stupid girl.
Anyway, the upshot seems to be that having gone out to buy new luggage (my old bag fell apart), I also came home with yet another skirt. It's short and green. It has a pattern of butterflies and herons and deer on it. Way cute. It will be going with me to World Fantasy Con next week, oh yes.
Skirt of the day: blue panelled.

Comments

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

DO NOT PUNISH YOURSELF.!!! This is your Tati Martha Speaking! Things happen, no one - not even thee is perfect. AND you got a nice new skirt out of the excursion.
BUT - use the experience, the feelings of the experience in a scene in your book. That will make the discomfort all- or at least a little worthwhile.
Hugs,
M.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Oh, bummer. Don't you just hate that metallic crunch? I've been lucky enough never to have a car accident with another car (tough wood) but I did once scrape my back wheel arch on a concrete gatepost. Entirely avoidable and totally my fault. And yes, the FAULT always seems magnified when you're behind the wheel. I'm glad the repercussions were not unpleasant. Iguess the driver of the other car was just grateful that you'd left your details.

[ms-cataclysm.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear this. Shall we go and have a cup of tea?

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Fiesta man may not be an excuse, but he's clearly a contributory factor - and I hate when things go wrong and you can trace all the steps and see what you might have done differently. Also, I sympathise profoundly with the crunching of bumpers.

Skirt sounds good, though...

[chilperic.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the new skirt! And big hugs!

[owlfish]

How frustrating! I hope the rest of the week is in line with the success of your shopping trip, rather than what preceded it.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear about the accident. People in fast cars often leave problems in their wake. I'm glad it worked out, but please don't be down on yourself. ::HUGS::

[ex-triciasu.livejournal.com]

I tried to reply to this early this morning but LJ had one of its spasms and lost my post.

Was just going to say *BIG HUG* and please go gently on yourself (new skirt, yay) and also, very similar sorts of thoughts run through my mind in these situations. Perfectionism is such a bugger.

I hope you have a better day today!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

You are much too hard on yourself, this is the kind of thing that can (and does) happen to anyone.

Glad to hear that it wasn't serious, and that the insurance stuff is sorting itself out. Looking forward to seeing you next week at WFC!

[calendula-witch.livejournal.com]

Glad it ended well enough! But, ugh, what an awful thing to go through. :/ Many hugs.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I sympathise re the perfectionism. I don't expect anyone else to be perfect, so why do I beat myself up if I make the slightest mistake?

Anyway, enjoy wearing the new skirt and enjoy the convention!

[dorispossum.livejournal.com]

oh, that stuff is HORRID when it happens, even if it did turn out ok in the end. Not all your fault by the sound of it either - redfiestaman hardly helped. :(

But the skirt sounds lovely. :)

[frostfox.livejournal.com]

I backed into a colleagues car a few years ago, a big posh one (I was reversing in soft flat shoes and my foot came out of the shoe, I couldn't get it on the brake fast enough).
She and the insurance company were both very understanding.

Accidents happen, it's why they are called accidents. :)

FF

[athenais.livejournal.com]

It's no good at all being a perfectionist, and when you find out how to stop being one please tell me. Poor Marquise.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

My sympathies on the car. I hit another car in a parking lot in very similar circumstances, and have had my car hit by others the same way. These things happen, and are why we have insurance. No one got hurt. It's fine.

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

Still, I know how infuriating it is. Boo. It will feel much better when the car is fixed, though. Once it is, it's easier to forget it happened. Plus, new skirt! pics, please? it sounds neato!

[glass-mountain.livejournal.com]

I expect the chap with the other car was delighted that someone left him a note. And car parks are teh ebil. It sounds as if the skirt was a much-needed recompense. (I can't even drive!)

[watervole.livejournal.com]

You're a good person - you left a note. Many wouldn't. I remember once working in a car park (on a stand for the wildlife trust) and having to force a women, who had pranged the car next to her and was trying to slip out unnoticed, into leaving her details. (I'd already written down her licence plate number in case she refused)

The only time I ever hit a parked car, I left a note. I was glad I did as it turned out to belong to someone I knew.

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

Leaving a note was the correct and responsible course of action. You behaved well and with full propriety.

The universe does not care about you in the slightest. You are not important to the universe. Therefore your accident was merely an accident. They happen.

[anef.livejournal.com]

What a nuisance - but at least you weren't hurt. And moments of inattention happen to the most careful of us (thinks back to bike accident in April).

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

I missed this post - firstly I am very glad that you are all right and secondly I would like to point out to all that I reversed into YOUR car 2 years ago so it can happen to even the best people, ahem. (La M was incredibly kind about this).