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View Full Version : A brush with mortality...



mazdilla
09-20-2010, 11:53 PM
I haven't been on here in while 'cause:

Last Tuesday, September 7th, was the first day of school for the kiddies in our district, and being a school teacher, I was just as anxious and apprehensive as they were that morning.

I got up early, made a coffee, walked the Westies, showered, caught a little of Canada AM and walked out the door at 7:15. I left a little early 'cause I new that the roads would be extra busy with parents driving their kids to school on day one. I knew that I would miss my wife coming home at around 7:30 am from her night shift at the retirement home.

I cruised the 3 kms down the quiet sideroad that I live on in the country, and then proceeded to turn onto the main road and entered the s-curves that go through a swamp. There, in the middle of the second curve was an EMS ambulance, two firetrucks, and most every volunteer fireman from the area, with a few guiding traffic.

To my left, and approximately 20 meters into the swamp, was my wife's Sport Trac on its side; completely and utterly demolished. I later found out that she had lost it on the dew-slick road and launched it into two barrel rolls through the swamp while bouncing off of two rather impressive poplars.

Gah!!

I pulled the emerge, jumped out of the car, and ran straight to the ambulance and opened the door. It's a small community, so most everyone knew who I was. Upon opening the door of the ambulance, I found my wife sitting there with a look of utter 'Irish pissed-off' on her face. "I'm OK, honey," she said, "but I f*cking wrecked my truck." I was speechless at first, but all I could say was, "Awesome! ... are you sure you're OK?' "Yup!"' was the chorus of replies from all of the smiling occupants in the ambulance.

Needless to say, it was a little late to phone-in to work, she appeared fine, and I know that she's as tough as nails, so I handed her the insurance client card, told her to call it in, and that I'd see her soon. I went to work. I walked into school, told the principal what happened, and her immediate response was, "What are you doing here? Go home!" I insisted on starting the day/year, but was told that I was going home at first nutrition break, or I was going to be dragged home by all of the female staff.

I stopped at the impound on the way home and S**ntzy, the owner, asked me how my first day at school was... smart-a$$! I went back and looked at the truck. The only salvagable exterior part was the driver's rear taillight housing. The box was crushed, the windshield had a punch-through by a stump on the passengers side, every panel was buckled or twisted, there was a pronounced indent from a tree on the front right nose, another on the rear driver passenger door, and the side curtains were hanging. I cleaned out the personnal effects, removed the St. Christopher medal from the visor and gave it a gentle kiss before putting it in my pocket. The medal had been given to me by my biological mother just before she passed away.

When I arrived home at around 1:00 pm, I found her sitting in the Adirondak chair, with a Jeigermeister in one hand, a Coors Light in the other, the Westies at her feet, and a grin on her face that you couldn't wipe off with a shovel if you tried. "I've had a few, sit your ass down and have a beer with me!" she ordered. I have been with this little black-haired blue-eyed Irish fireplug for thirty years, so I have learned when to obey. So I did... for several...

... and you couldn't wipe the smile off of my face either.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. She had chose this truck two months earlier. I had told her that it wasn't a safe truck and was very tail happy. She stomped her feet and held her breath until I caved.

We did just fine on the insurance. She had suggested another Sport Trac. I gave her the look. She looked away and ceased to discuss that option. After thirty years, some things do not need to be said.

I bought her a 2008 Toyota Tacoma SR5 TRD 4 door to replace it. It comes tomorrow.

She likes it, 'cause I told her she will.

... and we're both looking forward to the next thirty years.

Noisy Crow
09-21-2010, 12:06 AM
Umm... wow. One of those events in your life that jerk you awake and make you realize how temporary this all is, and how much we should remember to live each day to its fullest. Really glad your wife is okay.

Sparcas
09-21-2010, 12:15 AM
:pop

Glad to hear everything turned out ok! Can I bring you camping so you can tell some more stories?

stevenma188
09-21-2010, 12:19 AM
Glad to hear your wife is ok!

x_o_k_x
09-21-2010, 12:20 AM
im glad it turned out okay

malfunktion
09-21-2010, 12:23 AM
Wow, this is osmething you should see on deadliest videos because they always walk out ok...

Good thing everybodies fine! aand sweeeet replacement SUV!

MistaChin
09-21-2010, 12:28 AM
Very glad your wife's ok, and you're an awesome story teller :)

mazdilla
09-21-2010, 12:35 AM
Thanks, guys!

The only injury was a slight seat belt burn on her neck, some stiff muscles, and a bruise on the back of her leg from being nipped by an over-excited Westie when she got home.

Oh!... and the replacement vehicle is a truck, not an SUV. No more SUV's. Not allowed in my yard.

cwp_sedan
09-21-2010, 12:46 AM
That must have been the worst feeling driving up on the scene. Glad to hear she is ok! :)

Donutz
09-21-2010, 12:53 AM
Wow. I'm glad everything is okay.

Thrizzl3
09-21-2010, 07:16 AM
wow!!! glad to hear she is ok!

Iceman_F1
09-21-2010, 08:24 AM
Very glad your wife's ok, and you're an awesome story teller :)

+1 to this. Glad no lasting physical harm seems to have happened.

Default User
09-21-2010, 09:29 AM
Wow. So glad to hear everything is ok.

30 years of marriage?!?!?! No wonder she's double fisting the drinks LOL!

Truly inspirational. It's funny how married couples act the same wether it's 5 years or 50 years. My wife pouted and held her breath until we bought her SUV. She loves her 4Runner but the gas is killing me. I've finally decided to sell it and buy her something new.

Mr Fatty
09-21-2010, 09:35 AM
glad she's ok! that sounded like one hell of a crash...

SilentJay
09-21-2010, 09:40 AM
Glad everyone is fine, and +1 you're an awesome story teller.

ST3ALTH
09-21-2010, 09:51 AM
WOW im glad she is ok. Hopefully the new truck has better stability with the 4wd

hit26k
09-21-2010, 09:59 AM
Glad to hear your wife is ok! It's funny, I was actually wondering where you disappeared to the other day. Your on the boards quiet often and then you disappeared. Hope your wife enjoys the new car! (even though you told her to :chuckle)

FoXy
09-21-2010, 10:10 AM
Wow, what an event. It's amazing how things work out sometimes. A true miracle, I very much believe that the Big Man upstairs is watching us. Glad to hear everything is ok.

prinsesa
09-21-2010, 10:21 AM
Glad everything is okay :)

Kappa
09-21-2010, 11:52 AM
Wow man that is not fun! we had someone crash like that in our front field i wouldnt wish it on anyone.. happy she is ok and such a trouper my girl friend would probably never drive again after that. best of luck with the recovery!

Kappa
09-21-2010, 05:46 PM
well i just got home... my girl friend just got in an accident... i now know its not fun... shes ok but doesnt want to drive...

ST3ALTH
09-21-2010, 05:55 PM
well i just got home... my girl friend just got in an accident... i now know its not fun... shes ok but doesnt want to drive...

No way wow just after you said something about it. Well i hope shes ok.

MistaChin
09-21-2010, 06:03 PM
well i just got home... my girl friend just got in an accident... i now know its not fun... shes ok but doesnt want to drive...

Shit dude that's crazy! I'm really glad she's ok.


Could you do me a favour? Pick 6 numbers between 1 and 49 please?

PCLoadLetter
09-21-2010, 06:14 PM
Glad to hear she's fine! You two definitely have somebody watching over you.

Kappa
09-21-2010, 09:07 PM
thanks guys.. she ended up getting cut off by a guy coming onto the highway he was merging and she was in the passing lane letting him in and he just kept coming over into her lane she had to lock up the car and ended up doing a 360 on the highway and crashed into the mile markers... not fun.. now shes got 4 flat spots on her tires.. so much for abs.. stupid colbalt lol anyway sorry to thread jack :/

n00bMeiSter
09-22-2010, 02:38 AM
Umm... wow. One of those events in your life that jerk you awake and make you realize how temporary this all is, and how much we should remember to live each day to its fullest. Really glad your wife is okay.

+1

You're a great story teller, and that must have been scary as hell coming up to that scene. Glad to hear your wife is okay! :) Don't worry, she'll soon start to actually like the truck. ;)

AS RomaMazda
09-22-2010, 06:09 AM
ummm....say whhaaa...did I understand you correctly!?

Cento Anni! (as we say:))

AS RomaMazda
09-22-2010, 06:17 AM
ummm....say whhaaa...did I understand you correctly!?

Cento Anni! (as we say:))

mazdilla
09-25-2010, 09:58 PM
Thanks so much to all the well-wishers. She's just fine and is now back to her 'Irish' self.

So, after all is said and done, I ended up replacing this dangerous POS:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt132/mazdilla/sport_trac/sport_trac_4.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt132/mazdilla/sport_trac/sport_trac_3.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt132/mazdilla/sport_trac/sport_trac_2.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt132/mazdilla/sport_trac/sport_trac_1.jpg

With this:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt132/mazdilla/tacoma/tacoma_new.jpg

She likes it... a lot! She says it's well planted on the road.

I like it too!

mazdilla
09-25-2010, 10:17 PM
glad she's ok! that sounded like one hell of a crash...

I've just posted pics of the Sport Trac. She told me it happened so fast; she lost the ass-end twice, corrected twice, but it launched out again and grabbed the shoulder before sending her airborne into the swamp. She was more concerned about someone coming head-on around the bend than anything else. She also told me that the 'walker' that she usually waves to every morning at that spot was late by a couple of minutes that morning. His cat had hid his shoe. He walked up to the scene after I had left for work. They met and talked for the first time.



Wow. So glad to hear everything is ok.

30 years of marriage?!?!?! No wonder she's double fisting the drinks LOL!

Truly inspirational. It's funny how married couples act the same wether it's 5 years or 50 years. My wife pouted and held her breath until we bought her SUV. She loves her 4Runner but the gas is killing me. I've finally decided to sell it and buy her something new.

... and she's good at it!


Glad to hear your wife is ok! It's funny, I was actually wondering where you disappeared to the other day. Your on the boards quiet often and then you disappeared. Hope your wife enjoys the new car! (even though you told her to :chuckle)

What's not to like? :thumbsup

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt132/mazdilla/tacoma/tacoma_new.jpg


thanks guys.. she ended up getting cut off by a guy coming onto the highway he was merging and she was in the passing lane letting him in and he just kept coming over into her lane she had to lock up the car and ended up doing a 360 on the highway and crashed into the mile markers... not fun.. now shes got 4 flat spots on her tires.. so much for abs.. stupid colbalt lol anyway sorry to thread jack :/

Holy crap! I thought that both of us going on a black/red theme was sorta odd, but this is downright creepy.

I'm glad she's OK!

Kappa
09-25-2010, 10:36 PM
haha true that man! shes back on the road again and i just bought her 2 new tires installing them soon lol nice truck!

Thrizzl3
09-25-2010, 11:02 PM
a 10000000x better replacement thats for sure..i wouldn't trust a ford SUV

MPS
09-25-2010, 11:16 PM
this would have been my choice

http://ford-f-150.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ford-f150-raptor.jpg

Kappa
09-26-2010, 12:16 AM
svt raptor is sexy our store GM has one in black

DruidB
09-26-2010, 04:47 AM
Glad everyone is ok... however there will be very little defference in stability between the Sportrac and Taco.

mazdilla
09-26-2010, 05:50 AM
Glad everyone is ok... however there will be very little defference in stability between the Sportrac and Taco.

What makes you say that?

Taco - Wider stance / longer wheelbase / lower centre of gravity / heavier truck = more stability


... unless I'm missing something here.

mazdilla
09-26-2010, 06:07 AM
this would have been my choice

http://ford-f-150.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ford-f150-raptor.jpg

Nice truck, but a little too big for the missus, and it doesn't have 4 doors.

Also too much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for what you get in return... a supercharger, piss-poor milage, super-fast depreciation, a bunch of plastic and a splash decal... and bogus trim parts flying off in all directions the first time I bounce it across my field to the woodlot. The front skid plate is thin aluminum attached to a plastic bumper. Jeeze, that's well thought out! (Found On Road Dead)

Also, I just got the TRD, so give me some time to 'personalize' it! It'll be sweet (-er)!

... and its a Toyota, so its good for about a kazillion miles after I finish paying for it; unlike Fords, which tend to expire just after your last payment.

Cheers!

Noisy Crow
09-26-2010, 10:21 AM
Another TM3 thread off in the weeds........................... :)

Slipstream
09-26-2010, 12:19 PM
Never have any complaints with the irish, fun to drink with and amazing story tellers when they are drunk...good times

DruidB
09-27-2010, 11:53 AM
What makes you say that?

Taco - Wider stance / longer wheelbase / lower centre of gravity / heavier truck = more stability


... unless I'm missing something here.

Your correct on all points... however the difference is still quite minimal. Any RWD Truck/Suv can and will get sideways easily on any slick surface. Driving with more caution would more of a solution than switching trucks... however good choice on a Yota. They are some of my favorites.

SilentJay
09-27-2010, 12:25 PM
Glad everyone is ok... however there will be very little defference in stability between the Sportrac and Taco.

First thing that came to mind was:
http://www.prattvillechristianacademy.com/images/taco-supreme.png

Zoom Zoom Boy
09-27-2010, 02:31 PM
Cheers indeed to the next 30 years...

It certainly is moments like this that crystallize the important things in life. Such as living. :)

Soyabean
09-27-2010, 03:00 PM
Im glad to see everything is ok with your wife. and congrats on the new truck

mazdilla
09-30-2010, 01:19 PM
Never have any complaints with the irish, fun to drink with and amazing story tellers when they are drunk...good times

Marry one, take her out for a seven course meal (a six pack and a potato), get her drunk and pissed-off, and you may just temper your thoughts on that one. Irish + :give beer =:complain


Your correct on all points... however the difference is still quite minimal. 1) Any RWD Truck/Suv can and will get sideways easily on any slick surface. 2) Driving with more caution would more of a solution than switching trucks... however good choice on a Yota. They are some of my favorites.

1) Absolutely correct, but we use 4wd here in Prince Edward County during the winter.

2) I had a choice in switching trucks due to the right-off, and I felt that since she now understood that an SUV is not a truck, are top heavy, and limited in their use as a work truck, it was time to move on.

(Besides, I made out like a bandit on the insurance!)

BTW, does anyone wanna buy a fiberglass tonneau cover for a Taco? What a foolish POS that is.

Cheers! ... and my wife says thanks again to all the well-wishers!