Strongly Worded

Dori Does Driving, Part 8 Billion

So it seems that driving brings with it a whole host of ethical issues. Remember how I allegedly "obstructed" a so-called "handicap ramp" and got nailed with a $200 parking ticket and people on the Craigslist women's forum berated me for trying to get out of it? Because, they alleged, I don't I care about the rights of people with disabilities?

Today, a new chapter in the saga:

I hauled my ass out of gym in time for this morning's 9:30 Step N Sculpt class (saintly, aren't I?). It was snowing, so I parked in a covered lot nearby. I exercised, bought some groceries and the paper, and was on my merry way home (eagerly anticipating a hot shower and hot coffee).

You know where this is going. I backed out of the parking space and into a black Honda Echo. I got out of the car and assessed the situation. My foster car appeared completely unblemished. Even the snow on the bumper was not displaced. But the Honda Echo sported a deep gouge in its back panel. It seemed unlikely that my little bumper-to-bumper kiss would have caused such damage. There was none of the Echo's paint on my foster car, no black rubber bumper residue on the Echo, but still.

I was freezing and near tears. I went into the shopping complex and asked the staff at various stores whether any of their employees were drivers of Honda Echos. No go. So I wrote a note to place on the windshield, expressing my hope that I did not cause the damage, but offering my contact info should that be the case. I discussed the note with a staff member at one of the stores, and he sneered and said that whether I caused the damage or not, I would be paying for it. "People just want their cars fixed," he said. Faithless bastard.

I got scared. I definitely didn't want to finance the repairs of some ruthless Echo-owner with no soul and a pre-existing condition. And I figured the driver was less likely to lie if we met face to face. So I stood freezing in the parking lot for an hour and finally found her. She was driving her sister's car and didn't know whether the gouge was new or not. She seemed honest and nice and promised that her sister would not try to screw me.

I gave her my number. I'm hoping, hoping, hoping she does not call.

Posted by Dori at 3:53 PM