Making the best out of a bad situation
Everyone and their mamas and papas know about the Toyota Recall. I've been a Toyota customer since I was 18. My father bought my first Toyota, a 2001 Toyota Corolla, Red, S-type, black interior, awesome steering wheel. I hated the color red for a car. I think it wasn't until about 2 years ago that I made peace with having a red car. Other then that, I loved my car. It was brand spanking new when I first got it and me and that car have had awesome experiences and not so great ones either (a bus collision, on the way to a funeral collision, ran into an ATM...etc) and also made some poor and stupid decisions with and in the car. I also had a chocolate stain on my seat and I could never get it out. But regardless of it all, LOVED my car.
That's right LOVED. I no longer have the car. I had a massive car accident in December that totaled my car. (I'm ok, I didn't get hurt physically) Not only was I hit with one car, I was hit by 2 cars! The first car spun me around and basically killed my car (the quarter panel and back axle and the tire was destroyed), then about 3 hours later, while I waited for a tow truck, probably the coldest day in DC to date, another car ran into the front. I just looked on in disbelief. I had no words and I didn't even want to see the driver that hit me. There was a cop that was with me at the time and said to me "Don't even worry about it, I'll get the info from the driver, don't even get out of the car" I really couldn't move. And then finally I cried. I didn't cry the first time cause I was just glad I didn't get hurt and I figured I'd cry later or something. But really, it was unnecessary. Then the only thing that came to mind afterwards was this episode on Scrubs, I think its in the 5th or 6th season when JD goes to a store on his scooter, Sasha, and there was a robber coming out of the store, cops were after him and he had a choice to hide either behind the scooter or behind a brick wall. Obviously the brick wall was the right choice but for comedic purposes, the robber hid behind Sasha. The cops just started shooting up Sasha. JD was upset! The robber decides to surrender, the cops get him and continue to shoot Sasha. Then JD says "Stop shooting, she's already hurt!" That's exactly how I felt, my car was already hurt. Then to top it all off, the cop give me a ticket for the first accident. (Technically it was my fault even though I got hit).
I really was a hot mess for about a month after. I had to wait around and see what I was going to do about my car situation, I was given a Dodge Charger as a rental (hated it) and then my insurance gave me some money and I had to buy a new car. I've never ever bought anything that big by myself or in my name. I have nothing in my name, not even my cell phone which I've had for over 7 years... Of course, I rely on my father for these things. Unfortunately my father was in El Salvador on vacation and I had to deal with this on my own. Um, really??? I don't know the first thing about car buying. What is APR? I know, that is so naive of me especially being the age that I am. But seriously, I hate dealing with those things. I'm ok if someone else wants to do them for me. I dreaded the process and didn't want to look for cars, I wanted MY car back. I didn't care that it was old or the automatic windows didn't work anymore. I loved that car and wanted it back so that mentality really wasn't helping the process for picking a new car. I then decided to get the new version of my car. Except in another color. I picked an electric blue color. It's awesome. I went to the dealer and wam bam, purchased the car. Rolled out of the dealer with out a care in the world........
Only to find out a week later, Toyota was in some hot water for some safety issues and had this MASSIVE recall. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!??!?! I did not want to be riding around in a deathtrap. I acted like I was ok with it, which in fact, I really was ok, but deep down inside, I was MORTIFIED. I heard about all those fatal accidents. One of the stories hit close to home and shook me up a bit. So I was glad when my dealer called to schedule my appointment for the recall. I went yesterday and spent the day with a good friend, we shopped, we lunched, we laughed, we were heartbroken together because of news we heard later in the day (nothing serious, but talk about a broken heart). It was an awesome day. It was great getting out of the same routine and just go out and relax. My car was fixed and now I feel a little safer driving around.
When I reflect on everything that happened, I always say it could have been worse. So I'm just really glad I am able to even talk about it now. And I thank everyone that was there for me.
That's right LOVED. I no longer have the car. I had a massive car accident in December that totaled my car. (I'm ok, I didn't get hurt physically) Not only was I hit with one car, I was hit by 2 cars! The first car spun me around and basically killed my car (the quarter panel and back axle and the tire was destroyed), then about 3 hours later, while I waited for a tow truck, probably the coldest day in DC to date, another car ran into the front. I just looked on in disbelief. I had no words and I didn't even want to see the driver that hit me. There was a cop that was with me at the time and said to me "Don't even worry about it, I'll get the info from the driver, don't even get out of the car" I really couldn't move. And then finally I cried. I didn't cry the first time cause I was just glad I didn't get hurt and I figured I'd cry later or something. But really, it was unnecessary. Then the only thing that came to mind afterwards was this episode on Scrubs, I think its in the 5th or 6th season when JD goes to a store on his scooter, Sasha, and there was a robber coming out of the store, cops were after him and he had a choice to hide either behind the scooter or behind a brick wall. Obviously the brick wall was the right choice but for comedic purposes, the robber hid behind Sasha. The cops just started shooting up Sasha. JD was upset! The robber decides to surrender, the cops get him and continue to shoot Sasha. Then JD says "Stop shooting, she's already hurt!" That's exactly how I felt, my car was already hurt. Then to top it all off, the cop give me a ticket for the first accident. (Technically it was my fault even though I got hit).
I really was a hot mess for about a month after. I had to wait around and see what I was going to do about my car situation, I was given a Dodge Charger as a rental (hated it) and then my insurance gave me some money and I had to buy a new car. I've never ever bought anything that big by myself or in my name. I have nothing in my name, not even my cell phone which I've had for over 7 years... Of course, I rely on my father for these things. Unfortunately my father was in El Salvador on vacation and I had to deal with this on my own. Um, really??? I don't know the first thing about car buying. What is APR? I know, that is so naive of me especially being the age that I am. But seriously, I hate dealing with those things. I'm ok if someone else wants to do them for me. I dreaded the process and didn't want to look for cars, I wanted MY car back. I didn't care that it was old or the automatic windows didn't work anymore. I loved that car and wanted it back so that mentality really wasn't helping the process for picking a new car. I then decided to get the new version of my car. Except in another color. I picked an electric blue color. It's awesome. I went to the dealer and wam bam, purchased the car. Rolled out of the dealer with out a care in the world........
Only to find out a week later, Toyota was in some hot water for some safety issues and had this MASSIVE recall. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!??!?! I did not want to be riding around in a deathtrap. I acted like I was ok with it, which in fact, I really was ok, but deep down inside, I was MORTIFIED. I heard about all those fatal accidents. One of the stories hit close to home and shook me up a bit. So I was glad when my dealer called to schedule my appointment for the recall. I went yesterday and spent the day with a good friend, we shopped, we lunched, we laughed, we were heartbroken together because of news we heard later in the day (nothing serious, but talk about a broken heart). It was an awesome day. It was great getting out of the same routine and just go out and relax. My car was fixed and now I feel a little safer driving around.
When I reflect on everything that happened, I always say it could have been worse. So I'm just really glad I am able to even talk about it now. And I thank everyone that was there for me.
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