High Chairs and new cars.

On monday, coming home from work, I stopped to get gas (first mistake, it's up to 2.45 or something). Then I tried to turn left onto Indianola (second mistake, it's a busy street). Then someone in the right lane paused to let me through. I went (third mistake). BANG!!!

Actually, I do remember seeing the car coming, but by then I was halfway across the left lane. I had forgotten there were two northbound lanes--the right lane stopped to let me through, but also blocked the view of the left lane, in which a Pontiac Grand Am was traveling about 30 MPH.

I saw the car, felt a hard jolt. My car was flung across the southbound lane, spun completely around and thrown onto the sidewalk and into the chainlink fence on the other side. I wiggled my fingers--well, at least they still work. Moved my head and shoulders--my back felt a little tight. I heard people screaming--but it sounded like shock and awe, not pain or horror. Hopefully that meant nobody was on the sidewalk I just comandeered. Someone came to the window, I ascertained this was the case.

The door had moved over to join me in the driver's seat. The gallon of milk on the floor had burst from the impact. The CD player was still playing (I had just installed it that weekend, after being without a radio for 8 months--that really ticks me off.) I turned off the car and climbed out the passenger side door. Everyone was amazed I was ok, the cop was especially dubious about me driving the car home. My back felt tight, but I was afraid they would call an ambulance if I said anything. We did the paperwork, I climbed back through the passenger side window and went home (a few blocks).

Well, well, so much for the tax return. But I'm very thankful to still be walking, breathing, and wiggling my fingers. Sim and Janelle and Chad and Deborah were wonderfully helpful with transportation while we were carless. And also thankful, after a long and frustrating day of car-hunting (I think every car under $3000 has sold since people started to get tax returns) to find a 95 Passat maintained by an very meticulous Baptist with 8 home-schooled children. Real high miles, but EXCELLENT shape and only 1300 bucks. It has a sunroof, CD player, 5 speeds, and is nice and red. And it rained most of the day anyway, so I didn't miss that much work. The chiropractor said he could fix my back. Now if we get our extra money into the bank before any checks bounce, we'll be back to normal!

On a happy note, Priska started using a high chair today--given as a gift from Iglesia Cristiana Hispana!