In my 32 years, I’ve never been directly in a car accident. I once hit a parked car (I know, I know) and the guy was super nice about it. I remember being in a minor accident in high school as a freshman with a senior driving and a car full of girls, but nothing that required the amount of work that went into today. After an hour on the phone with my insurance company, a trip to the body shop that made me wince, and a call to the rental company, a smiling man came to pick me up and get me to sign paperwork that said I’d be in one of their sleek vehicles for four days while my beloved Betty (my Honda) would get some much needed TLC at the body shop.

The sweet boy at the rental company turned on his charm and asked if I’d like a free upgrade. I just shrugged and said, “Oh, that’s ok. Whatever you’ve got me in is fine as long as it’ll drive. I’m really, really low maintenance” You’d have thought I’d told him he was going to jail. His face fell and he said, “No, no, no. You are supposed to be excited that I am putting you in a sweet little volvo for the next few days.” Having never driven a volvo, I suppose I missed the treat this was supposed to be so I missed the chance to make my rental agent happy.

As I slid behind the steering wheel and adjusted the seat I simply couldn’t wait to get home.

Then I started driving the car.

I’ve found my next car. Wow, that thing is smooth and no Volvo isn’t paying me to say this and clearly they aren’t giving me a freebie. When Betty dies in 5-6 years, I’m getting one of these. Probably very used, but it’s going to be worth it. The thought makes my sore back and jittery nerves just a little bit better.

It didn’t start that way. It started just fine, well, as fine as a day can start when I’m on a 4 day caffeine induced headache can start. However, I’ve been getting my fitness on and eating well and I was convinced I could get rid of the headache with some really fantastic endorphins. The ones that the elliptical gave me on Saturday were…superb to the say the least.

So, AJ and I headed to the Y and left the sickly Leon at home to face his chest congestion. AJ loves to go the Y and swim while I work out and I like having the company while I drive. We were almost there when I saw joggers going past. As I turned into the Y, I made sure that I made a wide arc to give them plenty of room. I know what it’s like to be on the side of the road and have cars so close that I can feel their heat. I was not rewarded for my good thoughts this time, though, as there was a huge area of pothole/uneven pavement with jagged edges that had my name on it.

It took out both of my right tires and I swerved to avoid rolling down the small hill. When I swerved, I must have bent the rim of one of the tires. When my heartbeat got back to normal, AJ and I got out of the car and hiked up to the Y. We had Leon on his way and roadside assistance coming with the tow truck, so there was nothing to do but go work out. The other option was sit in my car and stew about it. Honestly, I’d rather listen to my mp3 player and work off the calories.

This still hasn’t hit the part where my day was bad. I can handle things like that. As long as I have some semblance of control, I do fine. However, an hour later, the tow truck had not arrived and the place to replace the tires was only open a little while longer. During that time period, Leon’s car battery died. As he was about to lose his shhhh, a gorgeous man was flagged over to help us jump start the car. Of course, this happened after I’d worked out and I. was. stank. Figures.

An hour and a half later, the tow truck finally showed and offered to take my car to their shop and fix the tires. Ok. That worked for me. I hadn’t eaten and was about to Hulk Smash someone, so we grabbed food and went on our way. When we got there, they let me know that the rim was bent, and the two tires punctured beyond repair and they couldn’t fix my car that night, so it would be the next day before they could help us.

Yep. No good very bad day. If you want to contribute to my new tires, you know where the donate button is.

At least it wasn’t as bad as this guy, who drove his car into the flower bed at my office building and knocked down the office sign.

Before all those silly things called rules (and if you can’t tell, I’m being facetious here) and safety belt laws and booster seats, etc., people like my mom allowed their kids to lay in the back seat and sleep on short car rides from town to town. Sometimes, I slept. I do love a good nap beyond most anything in life.

However, there was something mystical about looking out the back window, while laying in the seat and watching the stars and the moon. I could make out the face in the moon and I imagined a whole world where the moon was my friend and we frolicked at night. There was so much wonder in this world and what I never could figure out was how the moon FOLLOWED me from town to town. It just further confirmed that what we had was special and that the moon was MINE.

As an adult, I can analyze this and see the ecogentricism of where I was and even how the moon “followed” me. But don’t you pretend for one second that you don’t understand the magic, because even as adults we crave that connection to the sky.

Why do you think cars have sunroofs and car makers have convertibles?

I’ll never be without a sunroof again.

When is the last time you took a minute to look up at the clear night sky? What’s stopping you from connecting with the child who looked at the moon and wondered if there was really a man up there?

Things that made us happy then can make us happy again.

Let me tell you this. If any of you ever pull this on me, I will make you the sorriest person you’ve ever heard of in ways that are 100% legal.