Last Friday, my older boy was in a car accident. The call you don't want to get is from a stranger telling you about it. Thankfully, my son called himself to tell me. It had just happened. He was very shaken up. I was able to tell him to breathe, to wait for the police, get out his insurance card and not to worry. He was very upset about his car. When we hung up I texted him a note and told him that as long as he was okay, that's all that mattered to me. The rest was just an inconvenience.
The car was my car. I bought it in 2000, a brand new Malibu. I loved the car and when it was 7 years old, I gave it to Mike to drive to school in his senior year. He loved the car too; took it away to college. The car really served him well through the next 5 years, including being flooded last year during Hurricane Irene. In the photo, you can see he still had his tassel from high school graduation on his mirror.
The insurance company called today to say it was totaled. I cried because I know how much my son loves that car. I called Mike and he was understandably upset. He's a senior in college and while we will get some money from the insurance company, it won't be enough to buy another car. We'll figure it out.
There are so many ways this could have turned out much worse. My "Italian mother" imagination has thought of them all. I cried again when I spoke to him because I needed him to know that an outcome that didn't include him being okay was unthinkable. In the end, it was just a car. My son is fine; the rest is just an inconvenience.
As always I am thankful for many things. This is top of my list.
Carpe Diem.
Susan C. Mangigian
1595 Paoli Pike, Suite 101,West Chester, PA 19380
610-719-1700 main office, 610-299-6237 cell
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You're right, Susan. Life in its perspective!!!
Loreena, aren't you having a baby today?? :-) Been thinking and praying all morning. xxoo
A car is a car is a car... it can be replaced. Your son, however...
You are right Susan, the main thing is that Mike is ok. Tough break with the vehicle financially, but hopefully there is a lesson here for HIM to learn, and a blessing was sent your way too with no harm to the family.
As a parent of a teenage driver I can relate. That is a phone call that you just don't want to get. I'm glad your son was okay Susan. Verythankful for that. :)
Susan,
I think these calls also glance the heart of fathers - a call no one wants to get with college-aged sons. We have one left in undergraduate studies... g
I am so glad he is ok, sorry about the car, so sad! Isn't it funny how we love our "things" as well as our people!
Alan, this I do know. xxoo
Gary, major blessings. And insurance is actually paying us a good price for the car so with just a little more thrown in, he should get something decent.
Jared, thank you. It's scary isn't it?
G... I have no doubt about a dad's heart. I love your way with words.
Kristin, thank you. I like my things... I love my people. xxoo
Susan, Glad Mike is okay. Just a bump in the life road. A car is just a thing, and I've read too many bad stories about kids his age not being so fortunate, so glad this one is just fine.
Bliz, thank you. I am so thankful Mike is okay too.
Susan...
It was just a car and can be replaced. The main thing is your son came out shaken but OK and that is a wonderful outcome!
"as long as he was okay, that's all that mattered to me. The rest was just an inconvenience"
I remember when "Mattie", our daughter wrecked my beloved Mustang GT, I was so worried that she was OK and yes, she called me too. What is really important is what will always be precious to us!
Richard,thank you dear friend.
Russell, It gets your heart going, doesn't it? xxoo
Hi Susan!
Being a mom that has received this kind of call more than once, I empathize. I think the first words out of my mouth were "Are you okay?" as well. My son totaled one Camaro that he loved when he hit slick highway pavement during a rainstorm in Colorado (we are from California...the long distance was horrible). The next Camaro he totaled was on him...he was putting in a CD when he hit a parked car. He got arrested and we found out it was because he hadn't told the city of Redondo Beach that he had gotten the dog tags for his dog that he had gotten a ticket for (and I am not kidding...a night in jail)! We finally sold his last Camaro and he got a Toyota pickup. Amazingly, tickets and accidents stopped. haha!
Susan: I too have received that call and had a good outcome, however my friends have gotten a different call. I am glad so son is okay. Cars can be replaced. Sons cannot.