I'm Back!

jim_mc · Post by **jim_mc** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 3:28 am

I've been off line since Monday night, and just
finished plowing through the 350 odd e-mails in
my inbox. Whew!

We had a freaky little snow squall here on
Tuesday morning, dumping about an inch of snow in
under 40 minutes. As it happened, my wife left
something at home that she needed at work, and
being off that morning I drove it over to her.

On the way home, as I headed north on NY 32, a
woman going south lost control of her car and
slid across into the southbound lane, then almost
got back into her own lane before ramming into
the front driver's side of my car. She was
driving a Mercury Grand Marquis, and I was
driving my VW Golf, so I lost.

I have some kind of cervical strain (I've only
seen the trauma docs, the ortho guy is still a
couple days away), so my neck is in one of those
attractive collars. Also, somehow my left hand
was caught between the steering wheel and the
airbag, leaving it bruised and swollen, along
with my whole left forearm. There are some nice
bruises from the seatbelt, too. I couldn't get
out of the car, or get the window open, so the
debris and smoke from the airbag deployment
irritated my eyes.

My little doggie was in the car with me, but
luckily he had just decided to go lay down on the
back seat. He bounced off the back of my seat,
but was perfectly unharmed. By the time the cops
and EMT's had my door pried open, the local
animal control person was sitting in the back
seat with him, getting friendly and assuring me
that she'd take good care of him until I could go
get him or send someone.

Though I'm feeling pretty lousy, I also feel
pretty lucky. I'm ashamed to admit that I
sometimes don't wear my seatbelt when I'm alone
in the car on a short local trip. If my wife or
one of the boys is with me, they'd pitch a fit
over that. Thank God I had it on that morning.
I doubt I'll ever go without it again. I hope
all of you wear yours every time you get in the
car.

We had another foot and a half of snow starting
last night, and it just seems to be tapering off
now. My wife and older son went out and cleared
the driveway and front walk. We have a little
electric snowblower, but it's still a pretty
strenous job.

The insurance company hasn't given the official
death certificate to my VW, but I went down to
the yard they towed it to and the guy there told
me it was inevitable. So I guess I'll be
shopping for a car pretty soon, too.

So in case you were wondering why there were no
wise cracks from me this week, now you know.

CHIFF FIPPLE · Post by **CHIFF FIPPLE** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 4:36 am

Gosh Jim and I hadn't noticed you were missing.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 4:47 am

I had.

I hope you get to feeling better as quickly as possible Jim.

claudine · Post by **claudine** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 5:01 am

hey Jim,
I'm glad you were not too seriously hurt and hope you'll be in perfect health again soon.
- claudine -

Tyghress · Post by **Tyghress** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 7:05 am

Jim, I'll be thinking of you. . .take it easy and do what the ortho says.

I've been a seat belt fanatic for years, but the kicker was when Tyghre had two rear-enders (one of which broke the back of his seat from the impact) in three days, both within three blocks of our home.

Glad you're on the mend.

aderyn_du · Post by **aderyn_du** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 8:02 am

Jim, so glad to hear that you are mostly alright... I hope you heal speedily, and are back up to snuff very soon. Take good care of you!!

Best,
Andrea

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 8:58 am

Hang in there Jim-- sounds like you need some whistle therapy!

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 9:23 am

I'm so sorry to hear about that Jim but relieved you don't seem to have received any permanent damage.

I always wear a seatbelt but sometimes, when in a hurry, I put it on as I drive off. I think I might be even more careful—so many accidents seem to happen a couple of blocks from home.

I hope you fully recover soon.

Whistlin'Dixie · Post by **Whistlin'Dixie** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 9:29 am

Jim: That must have been scary!
Good luck on a speedy recovery.... and might I respectfully suggest a Neurosurgeon review your MRI, rather than an orthopod? (*ducks*)

Mary

OutOfBreath · Post by **OutOfBreath** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 9:46 am

Glad you're mostly all right, Jim. I prefer small cars myself, I just like the way they handle better than a "boat" -- but sometimes I look around and realize that every vehicle near me is a suburban, expedition, or navigator and wish I was in a tractor trailer

Ironically, most people driving the large SUVs say they do so because they feel safer (goodness knows most of them have never been off pavement!). A recent study found that the safest vehicles, those with both the lowest accident rate and the highest survivability rate when they are involved in an accident, are cars like the one that hit you -- full size sedans. The first part of that statistic didn't surprise me but the latter part did. I figured the big SUVs (i.e. not the rollover-prone small ones) would have the best survivability rate once an accident happened -- but that's a rare case of my being wrong

lixnaw · Post by **lixnaw** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 10:28 am

hey jim, maybe it's good to have a chiropractor have a look at your neck for any out of place bones and nerves!

i wich you speedy recorvery!!

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 10:36 am

Whistlin'Dixie wrote: and might I respectfully suggest a Neurosurgeon review your MRI, rather than an orthopod? (*ducks*)

Mary

I second that. Anything spinal, first stop is the neurosurgeon in my opinion. I've had a back operation performed by a very fine neurosurgeon; I'm really glad a went that route.

jim_mc · Post by **jim_mc** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 7:39 pm

Thanks to everyone for the advice and kind words.

I recently heard a report (on NPR, I believe) that SUV's, especially the mid-sized ones, were especially dangerous to their occupants because they are prone to roll over. In addition, accidents involving SUV's of any size are much more likely to cause fatalities in the occupants of the other vehicle.

I'm going to continue to take my chances with compact cars. I drive about 500 miles a week, and for probably 450 of them I'm alone in the car. I can't see burning up all the gas and spewing all the emissions that would be involved in a bigger car or a truck/van/SUV. I'd be interested in a hybrid, but I also never buy a brand new car. You save a ton of money on someone else's depreciation and (especially in this part of the country) on insurance with a car that's a year or two old.

Tom Dowling · Post by **Tom Dowling** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 11:08 pm

Hello Jim:

Best Wishes From Brooklyn For a Speedy and Complete Recovery!! (And, happy hunting for the next Jim Mobile--I know it will strike the right balance between responsible, practical and fun, not unlike its future owner.)

Tom D.

dakotamouse · Post by **dakotamouse** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 11:20 pm

Wow close call! I'm so glad you're going to be alright. A car can be replaced you can't.