A new experience. I hit a car. I hit a car while driving in reverse. I hit a car, driving in reverse, backing out of a drive through lane because the guy in front was taking too long. Japanese service is amazing…which also means slow! They aim to please and want to make sure they get everything right. It was after 1pm and I was starving. We decided to go to Taco Bell on base to ease the stomach opera playing inside me. There was only one person in line in front of us and he must have been there five minutes before I punted. I checked all my mirrors and went in reverse. The horn and sound of the crunch came almost simultaneously. Barrett said I did a “home alone” face. Big eyes, open mouth, and surprise all in one. Graciously, he got out immediately to check out the damage and to let me calm down. The driver was a lady about our age and she was already on her cell phone, pacing angrily. We soon moved our cars out of the line (as I secretly glared at the slow moving order that just picked up his meal) so we could wait for the military police. Then Annabelle started to cry.
I took her out as my immediate feelings of fear, horror, and bruised pride were wearing off and I went to meet the woman. I looked at her car and exclaimed, “Oh Barrett, she takes really good care of her car!” We found out that it’s the equivalent of a Lexus and she just got new black headlights installed. Despite all this, she turned out to be very gracious. She told us more about her car (a bit of a motorhead…but a nice one!) and how she had recently bought it and almost drove her husbands car today because he was deployed. Ugh. I felt so badly.
Annabelle played in the grass while the military cop walked up scarily. “Don’t walk so mean!” I begged. He smiled and said he didn’t mean too. It took about a half hour or so to get everyone’s information and write me up a ticket. Awesome. Turns out, Japanese insurance does what its supposed too! They pay all of the damages and don’t raise your rate! We were in shock!! We turned to Crystal, our new friend, and said that we would treat her to Taco Bell! She laughed and accepted.
So, after the cops left, we all went in to Taco Bell and shared stories. It quickly became apparent that she was lonely. Her husband is deployed, they don’t have children, but they do have two dogs, one of which they recently discovered has cancer. Annabelle sat next to her and looked at all her pictures, gave her high fives, and poked her Dallas Cowboy watch. I was easy on her…after all, I just hit her. We heard about her moves, all her dogs, their breeding line, her husbands job, and her nieces and nephew. We found out that she is leaving shortly and that she and her husband already have chosen the cars they want to purchase once their feat hit the good ol’ USA! Like she told us…they love their cars.
As our lunch came to an end, she innocently said, “nice running into you!” We all laughed at the literal truth of the statement. As we drove away, Barrett and I were amazed at how the Lord used my lame accident for His glory. I was humbled, Barrett was found gracious, and she seemed to really enjoy our short friendship. I don’t recommend having an accident to make friends, but in the kindness and humor of the Lord, He made it work!
We had to exchange our contact info for the insurance, so perhaps you can pray for me to get up the nerve to follow up with Crystal to see how she is fairing.