Death of A Good Sidekick.

Cavvie is Dead.

Cavvie was my car, my beautiful white '98 Chevy Cavalier with two dents that I'm responsible for and one dent that is from an unknown responsible party. Cavvie is dead, because she was involved in an accident on February 27. I lent Cavvie to my good friend on that day, a friend who has come to known Cavvie pretty well and has driven her at least 10 times or so before.

While driving back to work from her errands, my friend was following a lady in a 2000 gold Toyota Avalon on the highway. She was two car lengths away from this lady. The speed on the highway is around 30 or 40 MPH. My friend glanced down to check the speedometer. She was going about 32 MPH. When she looked back up, the lady had stopped dead in the middle of the road, near an intersection. My friend braked & looked to see if there was anywhere to swerve (which there wasn't, there was traffic on both sides) and then CRASH! Cavvie crashed under the back bumper of the Toyota. My friend's knees were shoved under the steering wheel, Cavvie's engine was pushed back, the airbags deployed (I'm a little jealous, I always wondered what they'd do...), the windshield cracked in like 10 places, and the front hood crumpled in half. A sorry right.

My friend is okay. Bruised knees, possibly some soft tissue damage, but that's it.

The accident happened about 10 blocks from work. I got myself down there soon after my friend called & told me what happened. I rode with the tow truck driver to the auto body shop. My friend's friend recommended this auto body shop to me and so far they have been completely wonderful. They have complimentary loaner cars on hand. So I get to drive around for free, well, except for gas. One drawback....the car I got is a '94 Mercury Sable. It's ugly, smells like my grandparents' old Dodge (which isn't completely bad, just a noticeable smell) and the car, apparently, is Proud to be a Universty of Oregon Parent. Which means, I am? Interesting. Who knew that getting your car crashed could turn you into a parent?

The appraiser guy called last week and confirmed that Cavvie is dead, totaled. The total loss department rep called and said that Cavvie is worth $2,822. I get that back.....well, minus my $1,000 deductible. Rats. Oh well, still enough for a down payment on a new car, I s'pose.

My friend's family is all excited to help me get a new car. I feel completely blessed for that. Her family knows like, everything about cars. I'm very very excited.

I'm learning again just how amazing other people can be when tragedy strikes. Thank you so much, to all of you who have called, prayed, and offered advice!

Oh yeah, and my friend's friend who recommended the auto body shop to me? He met me at the body shop on Friday and totally helped me out with dealing with the insurance company, etc. That was a HUGE blessing!

So yeah. If you've called me recently and I haven't called you back, this is why. I'm hoping to return to my regular scheduled life soon....well, maybe. I'm actually learning that there is no such thing, anymore!

I love you all. Thanks for being awesome friends!!!!