OW!

The sudden impact jerked me from my reverie.

My plan was to exit St. Arbuck's parking lot but a silver Camry,

 backing out of its parking spot, put a sudden stop to that.

Shocking.

Stunned,  I got out of the car to check the damage and

a man with a bulbous nose said, "I looked both ways but I didn't see you."

 Accident-free for the last 50 years, I wasn't sure what to do.

"Are you going to file a report?" said the lady who'd come out of the coffee shop.

  I have to make one...for our liability. Are you injured?"

No.
She left us standing there looking at each other.

We exchanged insurance information and the man said,

"Well, I guess I'll go home and call my insurance company and find out what to do.
 Sorry about that."

We left the scene.

 I was shaking like a leaf, irritated by the inconvenience, and, worst of all,

our lovely new red Prius had been wounded.

I cried, canceled appointments, and waited for the phone to ring.

 I hadn't caused the accident.

 But now I had to prove it.

Three days of phone calls, emails, estimates, and interviews about what happened.
Hoping it wouldn't cost me anything.

Then, yesterday, sweet relief from the other driver's insurance company.

 They'd accept the liability, pay for the repairs,
 and supply us with a rental car while the Prius is repaired.
And the work will be done in time for us to move north for the summer.


I'll get over it.
 However, I'll drive ever more defensively
and, with gratitude, remember the close calls from which I've escaped.