My Opera3:33 AM
Monday, August 28, 2006 7:29:14 PM
Well. Where to start... I'm extremely lucky to be alive today.
Saturday night, I went out with M, who just hopped off a plane from Florida.
She’d only been in town a few hours when we met. We’d been corresponding via internet
for a few weeks as she’s been planning to move down here. She contacted me through myspace and was looking for cool folks to hang out with when she came to visit.
We got along great right off the bat. She was fun, sharp, energetic, and beautiful.
After grabbing a few drinks in the quarter, we headed uptown to catch some live music.
Hot 8 Brass Band was playing at “Les Bon Temps Roule”, a local uptown establishment.
We had a blast dancing, and after the show we shot a couple of games of pool.
She kicked my ass….
On the way home, she recited some lovely poetry to me as we cruised down Magazine St.
I noticed she wasn’t wearing her seat belt, but we were almost home, so I didn’t say anything.
As we crossed the intersection at Napoleon Ave., I looked at the clock. 3:33 AM.
“Make a wish.” As the words slid past my lips, a truck flew across Magazine St.,
blowing through the stop sign. Everything suddenly switched to slow motion.
I slammed on the brakes, sliding into his rear panel. We were going about 50mph.
Both airbags exploded from the dashboard, leaving billows of white powder as we skidded to a stop. I turned to M, to ask if she was OK. All she could say was,
“I got to get out of here. It burns….” I got out and helped her to the curb. I noticed she
was bleeding from the mouth, but she could walk, so I figured it wasn’t that bad.
I realized that I kept repeating the words “That was a stop sign” over and over, like it was the only words I knew. I walked towards the other truck and found five extremely drunk 21-23 year olds with suits and ties stumbling around. None of them suffered a scratch.
They were coming back from wedding, where they obviously had a grand time.
We were right across the street from the police station, so fortunately response was quick.
I went back to check on M to find her crying and holding her mouth. I held her close and told her it would be OK. When she mumbled the words,” My teeth are gone.” my heart dove into my stomach.
They immediately arrested the driver. A witness stepped forward and offered her business card, and the police were surprisingly nice for being NOPD. The ambulance
pulled up, loaded M in, and was preparing to drive off. Officer K. Allen walked up and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll finish the report. Go with her.”
I sat in the hospital all night with her. She had first degree burns on her arms from the air bag powder. Nine teeth were missing or damaged and her jaw was broken. Talk about guilt. If we would have left one minute earlier or later, we’d have been fine. She sensed my despair and self-loathing and responded with, “It’s OK. It’s not your fault. Everything happens for a reason. Thank you for being here with me. You rock.”
as she slipped into painful unconsciousness.
My truck was totaled and the worst part about the whole thing is that I let my insurance lapse. I contacted his insurance company and was told that I wouldn’t be covered.
She wouldn’t be either. The insurance companies lobbied to put the "No pay, no play" law into the books a few years ago. Before (and in most places I think)it wouldn't matter because it wasn't my fault. But now, if your not insured and someone assaults you with a vehicle, your covered until you throw down the first TEN thousand dollars yourself. I take responsibility for not being covered, but is it fair? If the situation was reversed and he didn’t have insurance, then mine surely wouldn’t cover it because it was clearly his fault. He went straight to jail for DWI for Gods sake. So who picks up the tab? I guess we’ll have to sue him directly. This crime will not go unpunished! Insurance is a fucking racket!
God Damn. She was an innocent victim, a wonderful person who may never look the same. Her mouth will be wired shut for the next six to eight weeks and then she’ll have to worry about dental reconstruction. Her mother lives in Cut-off, Louisiana. That’s down at the very bottom, and that’s where M is now. Without a vehicle I can’t go see her.
Her mother was very understanding and we’ve talked frequently since the accident.
She already had a lawyer on retainer, so when I told about State Farm’s blow off this morning, she chuckled and said, “Hmmm. Ookay. We’ll see about that.”
So we’re gearing up for major legal battle it looks like. The party I’ve been organizing seems pointless now. I’m not in the mood. Everything suddenly sucks, and I’m depressed. What sign is this? What does it mean? How am I gonna handle this?
I was already up to my neck in work I created for myself. Now I don’t feel like doing anything.
I’m sure we’ll end up fine in the long run. We’re not dead.
I just wonder if she had time to make a wish…..
Saturday night, I went out with M, who just hopped off a plane from Florida.
She’d only been in town a few hours when we met. We’d been corresponding via internet
for a few weeks as she’s been planning to move down here. She contacted me through myspace and was looking for cool folks to hang out with when she came to visit.
We got along great right off the bat. She was fun, sharp, energetic, and beautiful.
After grabbing a few drinks in the quarter, we headed uptown to catch some live music.
Hot 8 Brass Band was playing at “Les Bon Temps Roule”, a local uptown establishment.
We had a blast dancing, and after the show we shot a couple of games of pool.
She kicked my ass….
On the way home, she recited some lovely poetry to me as we cruised down Magazine St.
I noticed she wasn’t wearing her seat belt, but we were almost home, so I didn’t say anything.
As we crossed the intersection at Napoleon Ave., I looked at the clock. 3:33 AM.
“Make a wish.” As the words slid past my lips, a truck flew across Magazine St.,
blowing through the stop sign. Everything suddenly switched to slow motion.
I slammed on the brakes, sliding into his rear panel. We were going about 50mph.
Both airbags exploded from the dashboard, leaving billows of white powder as we skidded to a stop. I turned to M, to ask if she was OK. All she could say was,
“I got to get out of here. It burns….” I got out and helped her to the curb. I noticed she
was bleeding from the mouth, but she could walk, so I figured it wasn’t that bad.
I realized that I kept repeating the words “That was a stop sign” over and over, like it was the only words I knew. I walked towards the other truck and found five extremely drunk 21-23 year olds with suits and ties stumbling around. None of them suffered a scratch.
They were coming back from wedding, where they obviously had a grand time.
We were right across the street from the police station, so fortunately response was quick.
I went back to check on M to find her crying and holding her mouth. I held her close and told her it would be OK. When she mumbled the words,” My teeth are gone.” my heart dove into my stomach.
They immediately arrested the driver. A witness stepped forward and offered her business card, and the police were surprisingly nice for being NOPD. The ambulance
pulled up, loaded M in, and was preparing to drive off. Officer K. Allen walked up and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll finish the report. Go with her.”
I sat in the hospital all night with her. She had first degree burns on her arms from the air bag powder. Nine teeth were missing or damaged and her jaw was broken. Talk about guilt. If we would have left one minute earlier or later, we’d have been fine. She sensed my despair and self-loathing and responded with, “It’s OK. It’s not your fault. Everything happens for a reason. Thank you for being here with me. You rock.”
as she slipped into painful unconsciousness.
My truck was totaled and the worst part about the whole thing is that I let my insurance lapse. I contacted his insurance company and was told that I wouldn’t be covered.
She wouldn’t be either. The insurance companies lobbied to put the "No pay, no play" law into the books a few years ago. Before (and in most places I think)it wouldn't matter because it wasn't my fault. But now, if your not insured and someone assaults you with a vehicle, your covered until you throw down the first TEN thousand dollars yourself. I take responsibility for not being covered, but is it fair? If the situation was reversed and he didn’t have insurance, then mine surely wouldn’t cover it because it was clearly his fault. He went straight to jail for DWI for Gods sake. So who picks up the tab? I guess we’ll have to sue him directly. This crime will not go unpunished! Insurance is a fucking racket!
God Damn. She was an innocent victim, a wonderful person who may never look the same. Her mouth will be wired shut for the next six to eight weeks and then she’ll have to worry about dental reconstruction. Her mother lives in Cut-off, Louisiana. That’s down at the very bottom, and that’s where M is now. Without a vehicle I can’t go see her.
Her mother was very understanding and we’ve talked frequently since the accident.
She already had a lawyer on retainer, so when I told about State Farm’s blow off this morning, she chuckled and said, “Hmmm. Ookay. We’ll see about that.”
So we’re gearing up for major legal battle it looks like. The party I’ve been organizing seems pointless now. I’m not in the mood. Everything suddenly sucks, and I’m depressed. What sign is this? What does it mean? How am I gonna handle this?
I was already up to my neck in work I created for myself. Now I don’t feel like doing anything.
I’m sure we’ll end up fine in the long run. We’re not dead.
I just wonder if she had time to make a wish…..
