Skip to main content

If I Have to Have a Fender-Bender, Let it Be in Provo

Ivy, over at Uncharted, is having a contest, asking for the best opening line of a country western ballad. When I was typing the title of this post, I could almost hear the twanging of guitar strings. That title, perhaps like many country western lyrics, was born of experience.

Photo: A rear bumper, with a small hole and various scratches and scuffs

Monday morning, I was on my way back home after picking up some kolaches from Hruska's. (Yes, I had tried them for the first time on Saturday morning, and went back on Monday morning for more. If you've had them, you'll understand.) I was stopped at a 4-way stop, waiting for the car to the right of me to proceed before making a left turn, when BAM! a car plowed into me from behind. I couldn't believe it. I made the turn, pulled over to the side of the road, and the offender pulled up behind me. 

A young man, presumably a BYU student, got out of the car and immediately said, "I'm so sorry!" I didn't see any major damage to my car's bumper, so didn't bother to even get his name. He kept pointing to places on my bumper.

"Was that there before?" ("Yes," I said, then thought, "that's where a lady rear-ended me years ago when I stopped for a passing ambulance, and she didn't." )

"What about these scratches?" ("Yes, they were already there," I said, as I thought, "those were very recently obtained when I didn't quite pull far enough into the garage before pushing the button to shut the garage door!)

"You're so kind. You're so kind." He kept repeating himself. I just kept seeing my own children in him. I was fine. My car was fine. He was apologetic. He wasn't under the influence. (This is Provo, after all, home of the nation's #1 "Stone-Cold Sober" university--for 20 years in a row!) 

Besides, I had kolaches in the car that were getting cold. We shook hands, and got back into our cars. After he pulled away--I insisted he go first. I might be kind, but I'm wary, too!--I drove home, composing to myself that future country hit, If I Have to Have a Fender-Bender, Let it Be in Provo. 






Pin It

Comments

  1. I know the young man was thankful for a honest lady! Bless you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I was impressed with his humility and concern.

      Delete
  2. I just love the title of your blog...We all sometimes need reminding to be thankful and there is always so much to be thankful for. God bless you...

    gramswisewords.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I saw this the other day - love the title. I'm sure he was grateful to meet someone as good and kind as you. Most people would've made this a very different scenario.
    Lisa @ The Meaning of Me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was impressed with the way he handled it. He made it easy to just let it go.

      Delete
  4. Great song title and great story. Glad you weren't hurt.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks! Hope all is going well with you. Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Conversations are so much nicer when more than one person does the talking. :-) Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts; I'd love to hear from you!

Popular posts from this blog

Six Sentence Story: Twist

  An antique typewriter Each week, Denise at Girlie on the Edge blog posts a prompt word and invites bloggers to come up with a Six Sentence Story. It's a fun challenge for writers, and a delight for readers. Go over to her blog to read what others have written, and feel free to post your own story, too! This week's prompt: twist. ********************************* The kids who moved in next door were big kids--much older than her 3-year-old self--but they might be fun to play with, and as they were coming towards her, the idea of them being new friends seemed at least possible. She was rather shy, but she understood the basics of making friends, so when those neighbors crowded all around her and asked her what her name was, she didn't hesitate to answer.  She thought she had spoken loudly enough, but apparently her shyness got the best of her, because they didn't seem to have heard her.  "Twisty?" they asked, and recognizing she needed to be even louder, she ...

Ten Things of Thankful: Lovely Autumn

I've mentioned before, but it bears repeating, that I love fall.  This week I noticed the following:

Ten Things of Thankful: Valentine's Day is in Spring Edition

Despite what the groundhog predicted, here in my neck of the woods we have been enjoying balmy weather.  I think the nation needs a west coast groundhog to provide the local forecast.  I've spent time in my backyard this week, pruning palms and roses, pulling weeds, and planting raspberries and lilacs.  For those of you still buried in snow, I offer a hopeful glimpse of weather to come: