Moving Violations

My roommate, Katie, and I bought our cars at the same time. I went the practical route (Prius) and she went the fun route (BMW Z4). Last weekend we took a mini-trip in her car with the top down and I was offhandedly saying that, after much thought, I would not have gotten a Prius, if I had to do it over. While it's a nice car, I think it's a sin to live in SoCal and not have at least a sunroof. I never realized how much I used mine until I didn't have one. (Also, I have a laundry list of things I'd change about it. But that's not to say that it's not a good commuter car, which I guess is why I chose it.)

Last Wednesday, I had made a more-or-less official decision to cut my Europe trip in half, so I could use the other half to go to Tanzania in January or February. In explaining my need to climb Kilimanjaro to my dad, I pointed out that "you never know when something could happen and I'd like to do it while I can."

Then, not 18 hours later, I'm driving to work at 6:23am on the 101-S and the cars in front of me stop very suddenly. So I stop very suddenly. Just as the rush of relief that I didn't hit anything waves over me, SLAM SCREECH CRUNCH. The car behind me didn't stop, hitting me full speed, sending me flying into the car in front of me, etc. etc. until 5 cars are involved. There were airbags and broken windshields and fluids flooding the ground.

Here is my car now. If the orientation of this image is confusing, don't worry, you're not the only one.

I could tell you about my physical state right now, but all I have to say is: IT COULD BE SO MUCH WORSE. I'm alive. I'll eventually heal. Shit is swollen, airways are restricted, skulls are tender and bruised, BUT I'M ALIVE.

P.S. Yes, the brakes on my Toyota worked, thankyouverymuch.