Last week, I got a car accident. I was driving my son to the kindergarden. We were lucky, I hit the side of the other car, who was going in the opposite direction, so the impact was more friction than collision. My air bags did not open, that's a sign the impact was not a head-on collision.
My first instinct was to make sure my boy was ok. He was, top shape, asking what was the noise he heard. I moved the car in a nearby parking lot, so did the lady in the other car. Everybody seemed ok. It felt good. "It's only metal" I kept saying to myself and the lady, who was very sorry about her mistake. She did not notice the red flashing lights indicating a defective light and requiring full stop. "I thought it was green" she even said.
Anyway, my boy's fine, I'm fine, the car's at the garage and will be fixed soon (I hope), without me requiring to spend a single penny (thanks to a no-fault), courtesy car included. And to everybody I tell this story, I keep saying "It's only metal. The important thing is my son and I are ok."...
No... I'm lying... It's not only metal. It's a damn bruise on your pride. I should have made sure all was clear before turning left on that red flashing light. I should have been a 100% focused instead of being distracted by my son pointing the damaged light post to our right. I should have steered the wheel full right faster when I saw the other car about to collide. It went so fast, I'm stuck with the feeling I did nothing, I was a spectator.
Last week has been a difficult week. I've played real cool and calm with my son and wife, making sure they forget quickly. But something's broken... and it's not only metal.