Well, just when I thought I had made it through the learning curve and that the rest of my driving days would be problem free...I was wrong. This may be the most embarrassing post that I share, but regardless, the story needs to be documented.
I was leaving New Town Plaza...a very large mall...after a nice lunch with two dear friends. I was feeling so good about myself and how far I had come about getting to this mall, parking, and then getting home without my GPS...a big step. I was eager to get home, but not in a huge rush, since the kids would be home from school. As I was curving around, in the middle lane, mind you, the taxi in front of me decides to stop and pick up some travelers...yes, slightly annoying since he didn't pull over. I stopped in time, but decided that I would go around him since this was taking too long.
Oops! As I went around him, I heard a bit of a scraping noise coming from the left front side of the car. I thought that my mirror had hit his car, but I wasn't quite sure. Well, panic ensued and my mind set of "if I just get out of here it will all go away" took over Plus, there was nowhere to pull over and when I looked in my rearview mirror, there was no reaction. I left the scene...not my best moment.
Well, during my 15 minutes home, the guilt took over. In fact, as I turned onto my street, there was a car with a huge red streak on its car door. "What if my car looks like that?!" I started to think...and that maybe I hit that taxi more than originally thought. I got out of my car and did find a black mark on the front corner of my car...apparently it wasn't my mirror:) But I did hit the other car's bumper.
I wasn't home for more than 5 minutes, when I got "the call" The police wanted to know if I had been driving in Shatin and asked me about my license plate. Before I left to go back to the scene, I called Andy back. He had been trying to get a hold of me while I was on the phone with Officer Norman. He was obviously concerned with my well-being, since he was called first and wasn't given any details. But I told him I was fine and that I would call him back when I knew more.
When I arrived, the taxi was still in the middle of the road, with two cop cars and three officers and the taxi driver. I pulled over, coming out with an immediate apology. The officers took a look at my car, took pictures and started filling out paper work. I, in turn, asked the taxi driver if I could see his car. He pointed out a 2-inch scratch in the right corner of his bumper...then proceeded to shake the other side of the bumper to show me that by hitting the right side of the bumper, the left side had become dislodged. I never saw it move, but I also wasn't in a position to argue.
After checking out the taxi, I was then asked if I had consumed any alcoholic beverages. It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon! I said no, and then was given a breathalizer test...which came out to a 0. Of course, in the midst of taking the test, my mind started thinking..."is there anything in a cappuccino that would register?" Again...some panic shining through. I was also given my disposable part of the test as a momento...how thoughtful:)
After signing my name to some documents, the officer told me that the taxi driver was getting an estimate for the bumper replacement.When he got off the phone, I was on my phone with Andy, giving him the play-by-play. He showed me his estimate, and then Andy and I weighed our options. Yes, there are options here in Hong Kong, which I had heard from friends who had been through this experience. The option that is most popular is to pay off the other driver...and it all goes away. After looking at his estimate, and knowing our deductible, that is the option that we went with, as well. Luckily for me, there was an ATM right by us, so I was able to get out the cash and pay him on the spot. And as uncomfortable as I was doing it this way (because that is not how it is done), it was nice to drive away knowing that it is over...no insurance reps to talk to, or estimates to wait for, or payments to go up...a clean slate. Albeit, this clean slate has some more character on it:)
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Cambodia 2015 Reflections
So it has been over a month since we were in Cambodia for our church's family missions trip. I have had some time to reflect and now want to document and share some of those reflections that were most impactful to me.
1. More people need to experience slums, poverty and corruption in order to come to a better understanding of the needs and root causes. If people could smell, see, touch the poor, more people would be driven and compelled to act.
2.We need to act. As a follower of Jesus, it is clear that we are commanded to love. Love is an action and one that usually involves sacrifice.
3. Loving also means relationship. How are we spending out time to build up and encourage and support? We can all give resources...but could we give of ourselves? So many ways to love the poor or those who are serving the poor.
4. Jesus is enough. Serving in hot, hard uncomfortable places brought me more joy than being in my comfort. In moments where we are in the center of His will, He gives us everything we need and then some.
5. These children are amazing...filled with hope, and joy and love. They have gifts that are endless...they just need opportunities to use and express them.
6. Anyone can give. We met moms and dads, lawyers, teachers, men in their 20's and women in their 60's...people who decided that they were going to do something...very inspirational.
7. The circumstances are dire. To hear about the cycles that have become normal in Cambodian society...to sell your daughter into trafficking because its the only way, you believe, to pay for medical care for your husband....not giving it a second thought because that is what happened to you when you were her age. When will this cycle end...when will the world take notice?
8. Family is powerful. Connections are key. Here in Cambodia, the structure of family had been all but destroyed during the 1970's. When we came as families, the children were able to observe how we loved each other...respected each other...served each other. It was also a powerful time of bonding for Grace, Emma and I. We have an amazing shared experience and have already had some great discussions on what God is teaching us through this opportunity to serve.
These are just some of my thoughts in the last month. I also have a ton of pics, but instead of bombarding you, our friend Margaret put together this video to music that shares some pics and video of our time in Cambodia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gzs2zUc9cQ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)