The day started easy enough, with me getting to the polls at around 6:45AM, and getting in a line of about 20 already there before me.   The line moved quickly, and I filled out my ballot, got my “I Voted” sticker and left without incident.   For once, I beat the rush!  yeah!

I decided I needed a treat that morning, so even though I didn’t need gas I drove to Char’s gas station and got 2 slices of breakfast pizza.  I then got on highway 30 and finally Interstate 35 towards Des Moines – on my way to work listening to Mancow’s final pleas for people to vote Libertarian.

I-35 merged into 235 and I took a left turn on MLK to go towards Ingersoll.  Little did I know what was in store.

MLK is a major through route in Des Moines, and the posted signs say 35.  When I go 35, most cars are passing me.  What irritates me is that there are stoplights at very short intervals, making it almost impossible and dangerous to even get up to that speed.

I started down the hill past the Woodland Cemetary where I came to a stop behind another car. WE were stopped for a good 5-10 seconds when I glanced up in my rear view mirror and saw a Jeep Cherokee coming down the road at a good speed.  I remember seeing her glance elsewhere and I knew she wasn’t going to stop, but I was pinned in with no place to go.  So, I tensed up and braced for the impact.

And an impact it was.

The driver didn’t even hit the brakes until she hit me, causing me to hit the person in front.

I stayed in the car, dazed.  I couldn’t believe this was happening.  I felt a pain in my neck, but it seemed to go away.  I felt my heart pounding in my chest so I just stayed there in the seat for a few seconds.  (I had not taken my blood pressure meds since they had run out, I was actually on my way to get a refill before work).   Suddenly there was a pounding on my door as the driver of the Jeep was asking if I was ok.   I opened the door and sat there for a couple seconds, and the guy in front of me said he was calling an ambulance.

After I got out and took some photos with my phone, we decided to go into the adjacent parking lot to wait for the police and ambulance.   I drove around the corner and parked, and then tried to call my mom, but dialed a combination of her current number, and my childhood telephone number first, then used the directory to call her the second time.   She then called my brother who came out to the scene.

The ambulance came and I managed to get inside, my legs shaking, and they took my blood pressure.  180 over 120.  They asked if I wanted to go to the hospital, but I declined, saying I think I was ok.   They told me that sometimes adrenaline makes you feel like you are ok temporarily, but the pain could come back.  I said I would go to the doctor if things got worse and they went on their way.

The police show up and takes the report, and the woman clearly identifies herself as the one at fault.  She claims she only looked up at the sky for a second and then we were stopped.   I can’t remember if she looked up or down, but I had time to see her barreling down the hill.

I take some more pictures with my phone, and drive the few blocks to work and check things over again.   I catch my boss int he hallway and promptly tell him Im going home.

Unfortunately, as a result of the force of being thrown frontwords and then back into the seat, the seat broke to an entirely reclining position, so it was very awkward to drive it like that the rest of the way home.  Plus I was in constant fear that something would explode or fall off the car on the way back home.

I got inside my apartment just as the phone was ringing.  It was the driver’s security company.  Remember, this is literally about an hour or less after the event happened.  He tells me they will take care of everything and tells me of 3 body shops they can notify immediately.  Don & Sons, Schaefers and Wayne Larson.  I choose Schaefers.   He then tells me that if I feel hurt or anything, to try hot compresses and ibuprofen.  Im thinking, if I feel anything, Im going to the doctor.  He also says they will pay for a rental car from Enterprise when I need one.

I manage to get my personal belongings out of the trunk by folding the seats down, and I drive to Schaefers, where they tell me the car is undrivable and may be unrepairable since they hit me in just the right spot.  I call Enterprise and they want me to put a credit card on the car since they don’t have a claim number.  I give them the number of the insurance guy, and he calls me back at Schaefers asking why I want a car already.  I tell him to talk to the auto body guy, who tells him my car is not driveable, plus they can start on it relatively soon.  Reluctantly, the insurance guy agrees to pay for the rental car starting that day.

I get to Enterprise, and they tell me the insurance wouldnt pay $2 extra a day for a normal size car, only a compact.  I really don’t care at this point, so I get the rental car, get some ibuprofen, some ginger ale since Im feeling kind of dizzy, and then I go home.

All night, I just kept visioning the green jeep coming down the hill and knowing it won’t stop.

The next day (wednesday) I wake up with a stiff neck where it even hurts to eat.   I go to the doctor and he says its normal, but if it gets worse to let him know right away.  He tells me to take 3 Ibuprofen instead of just one … 3 times a day.  I took the rest of the day off, still exhausted from everything that has happened.

So while the car can be repaired, currently I am out 2 days of work, a doctors visit, and 2 bottles of ibuprofen.

They say the car will be ready by the 14th.

And that’s how I spent election day.