Carnage and crisis, terror and tragedy

[ailbhe]

This evening, after Linnea was put to bed (relatively early: 9 pm!) Rob and his parents went out to fit the carseat int he back of their car so that she could be transported around while I'm in hospital tomorrow. You know, so that I can be collected from hospital, that sort of thing.

It's a narrow residential street - cars parked either side, space for a single vehicle in the middle. It's one-way so this isn't usually a problem. Most people drive at reasonable speeds so no-one's wing mirrors get chipped.

The car was parked under a streetlight. To fit the carseat, Rob was leaning in the road-side door with the door open, when a van of some headlight-free kind drove into the open car door and bent it backwards. No-one was hurt. The driver of the van, however, started shouting at them - fuck this and fuck that - so I got automatically frightened and had a nice cosy panic attack. Eventually the driver of the van demanded that we call the police, which I was pleased about, because I was beginning to get afraid that he'd get violent; his manner, certainly, was very violent.

I have just about stopped shaking. I'm drinking sweet tea. The police have been and gone. The drivers have exchanged details. The driver of the van apologised for his attitude when he got out of the van, for which I thanked him through tears of relief. I am immensely grateful that Rob was leaning into the car at the time, so he was not hit. I am immensely grateful that we were putting the carseat, and not the baby, into the car at the time.

I'm not thrilled that my father-in-law may have to go home this evening, late and awkward, and leave Linnea alone with my mother-in-law tomorrow. Nice lady, but Alan is so like Linnea's daddy that she accepts him without question - the same way my mother is so likeme that she accepts her without question. There's always - every day - a period of introduction between Linnea and her Farmor, and we'll have to get through that period tomorrow morning as we're rushing out to hospital for my not-a-real-op.

I've been deriving such comfort from knowing that she'll have a Dad-a-like with her. Damn. Damn damn damn.

Comments

[firecat]

I'm glad that the crisis was resolved. I'm sure Linnea will do ok with your MIL. Best wishes for your op.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

I suspect the van driver was shaken and struck by what his idiocy (no lights) might resulted in - that sort of realisation often leads to blustery anger in order to hide fear and shame. Thank goodness that no actual violence ensued and an apology was forthcoming.

Best wishes for tomorrow.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Might have. I can spik da English, honest.

[ailbhe]

I suspect he was - I kept saying "Oh my god. Oh my god. We could have been putting the baby into the car, not the baby seat. Oh my god."

Of course, at 9 pm we wouldn't be, usually, but we could have.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

We certainly might have been here, if it were us - and if you had been visiting your in-laws instead of the other way around 9pm might be a good home time. :(

I have been insisting for some time that imc always turn the car around in the cul-de-sac and park so that our babyseat is always by the kerb, not the road, and this is why. (Also because we have a better chance of someone seeing if one of the local oiks attempts to break in/steal it. I wouldn't care much about anything else in the car but the seat was pricy!)

[beaq.livejournal.com]

Gyowp!

Many calms to you and yours.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Eek, I'm so glad he didn't get the back pockets taken right off his pants.

[rosefox]

I'm so glad you and yours are physically well. And hey, at least you can get all your anxiety out of the way at once!

[buzzy-bee.livejournal.com]

Yikes! And Hugs. And virtual vino since you can't have the real thing and I sure as heck would need it after that.

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Yipes! I'm glad he wasn't hurt, and that it was just the car seat.

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

TEA, DAMNIT!

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Ugh.

Well, hopefully this is the crisis to take your mind off what's happening tomorrow, and hopefully tomorrow will go smoothly and you will be fine. I can't say "don't worry about the general anaesthetic", because that would be entirely hypocritical of me considering I am completely terrified of it myself, but I do sincerely hope that the fuckwitted so-called consultant actually has a look & is horrified by what you're having to put up with, and comes up with a sensible suggestion that'll get you fixed properly.

Meh.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness, what an awful thing to happen! I'm glad everyone's OK (or will be).

*big big hugs*

[elissaann.livejournal.com]

Whew! I'm so glad that Rob is okay.

I hope it goes smoothly tomorrow.

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

Good Grief!

:::Phew, nobody was actually hurt:::

best wishes for tomorrow.

[griffen.livejournal.com]

Oh, jeez, honey! I'm sorry I wasn't around on AIM earlier! *hugs, shocked*

[pauamma]

Yowsers!

[mouse-h.livejournal.com]

awww hunny.
*hugs* and could you pass some on to Rob aswell.
what is the car like?

[sshi.livejournal.com]

hot sweet tea is the business

and best wishes for the next few days from Dublin

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Ack! I'm really glad he wasn't hurt. Is the door seriously damaged? If so, is it going to be readily fixable?

[richtermom.livejournal.com]

You didn't need the extra stress and trauma.

Best best wishes and mellow, stress removing thoughts for tomorrow. And happy fun adventure comfortable thoughts for Linnea.