Sometimes things happen and there is no reason why. Other times the root cause can be traced and in this case it was all my fault. I forgot to turn off the coffee pot.
We were headed out for the day to catch the ferry to take us to Bald Head Island. My love of lighthouses was spurring us onward to take in this lighthouse that we had yet to see. About 20 minutes into the drive I looked at my dear husband and said “I didn’t turn off the coffee pot”. He knows me well enough to know that it was time to turn around or else I would worry all day about burning the condo down.
Of course this meant that we would miss that ferry and have to catch the next one but at least I would be able to enjoy the day and so that is what we did.
Coffee pot not only turned off but unplugged and on our way we went.
Two miles from the ferry we had a left hand turn at a light and then a quick right hand turn onto Jabbertown Road (love that name) and we were almost to the ferry. EXCEPT…….a woman merging onto the same road we were on misjudged and crash, bang, slam —-we were hit. Chris looked at me incredulously and said “Did we just get hit?” Yes, yes we did.
Now I love the state of North Carolina. I really do. In my perfect world I would be living here on the beach but that time is not here yet so…..let me just say that sometimes it is a different pace here and on this day the pace was s l o w. The good thing was that all the occupants in both cars were not hurt and the car that hit us had very little damage although our car was pretty un-drivable unless we pulled the bumper off of the tire.
Sheriff came but it was not his jurisdiction. His main reason to stop was to make sure we were all getting along. He told me I would be surprised at how folks act in times like this. He confirmed the state trooper was coming.
An hour and a half later…..yes….an hour and half later the trooper came. Very nice guy and personable but as I said things move s l o w l y. He had one clip board, apparently, so the lady filled out her report, handed him the clipboard and he took her report off, clipped a new page on and then he handed the clipboard to Chris for him to fill out his report. Somehow I think NC should spring for 2 clipboards per car but hey—-maybe there was some strategy behind the one clipboard.
During our time on the side of Jabbertown Road we learned a lot about the occupants of the car that hit us. We learned that the driver of the car that hit us had a mother who was in the hospital and she was on her way to pick her up. We met her father and assorted other folks who stopped by the side of the road to see what was happening. learned a lot about the tow truck driver, Conrad, who was raised in Boston and his father was an educator at Harvard so that is why he had such great diction. We learned much about the trooper and his family and how he loved to hunt in Adams County in Ohio and is going to buy property there, etc. We learned that wood chip trucks barrel down Jabbertown Road and since we had a rental car and were not allowed to move it before the police came we feared it would get hit again.
Finally we finished up with the trooper and the rental car company hooked us up with a cab who would take us from Southport to Wilmington where we could get a new car. We piled into the circa 1983 LaSabre complete with ceiling fabric falling down (you know what I am talking about!) and rode the 35ish miles in style to the Wilmington airport to get a new rental car.
Long story but suffice it to say it was a day that did not turn out as planned. All because of a coffee pot. If I had turned it off originally we would not have been at that spot at that precise moment to have that accident happen.
Before we headed back to the condo we stopped for a very, very late lunch at Hieronymus Seafood and the toll of the day melted away a bit with a wonderful meal.
Stuffed Mushrooms
New Year’s Eve Feast complete with Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens and Citrus Basil Flounder
All the tables were these great glass topped deals filled with sand and seashells and fabulous. I already have plans for one in my “some day” beach house.
All in all—a diversion for a day that was planned for a fun adventure at a lighthouse but you know what? It is all good. We met a lot of people, no one was hurt and we had a great meal. The only downside was that the other driver got a ticket at a time when she already had a lot going on in her life and this was one more thing. I gave her a hug before we parted and wished her family well and hopefully 2014 will be a better year for her.
Did you ever have a well planned out day that changed? I know you have. Everyone has. The good thing is that we were able to not let it ruin our trip and at least this time we spoke the same language unlike the time when we got rear ended in Pisa, Italy. Count it all joy, folks, count it all joy.
