Sunday Morning

Well, yesterday didn't go so well.

It all started bad when I had to wake up really early to go to PEC (it's a very early church meeting).

When I woke up for the meeting it was snowing pretty heavily. I drove to the meeting at what I thought was a safe speed (about 10 under the speed limit)...but I didn't account for my drowsiness and how that lowered my safest driving speed.

My problem occurred when I remembered (too late) that where I wanted to turn right there is a island that separates traffic between those that want to continue straight and those who want to turn right into the BYU parking lot.

Unfortunately, that little island is in the dead center of the right lane and you need to veer left to go straight or right to turn right, and unfortunately again, with the snow and my sleepy state, I was unable to do either.

I drifted into the island and my left front tire struck the curb at a 45 degree angle. This caused the tire to bend inward and (probably) break the axle.

This is the first time I've ever had an accident where I was at fault. I don't like the feeling. It might even be worse that I hit a fixed object and not a moving car. Hitting a fixed object just makes you sound stupid. It's not like you can complain that the concrete divide jumped at you out of nowhere.

After I hit the curb my car wasn't drivable. When I tried to give the car a little gas it made an angry sound. At first I wondered if it was because I was in so much snow, but looking at my left wheel made it clear my problems were greater than the weather.

What was really cool about all this (if anything is cool about all this) was how everyone around me was so helpful. If you're ever going to have troubles with your car....have them Sunday morning in Provo.

The moment I turned on my hazard lights there were about 5 bright eyed Mormon guys (all on their way to PEC too no doubt) ready to help. Provo is the good Samaritan capital of the world.

I was in a good place, cause not only were these people super helpful Mormon folk, they were super helpful Mormon folk on their way to a leadership meeting. Put simply, in a group famous for being helpful, these were the most helpful.

The first guy had a 4x4 with a chain. He got out of his car in the snow, pulled out his chain, got on his hands and knees in a suit, found a sturdy part of my car frame, and went to town. 4 other guys got out of their cars (also in suits) and helped me push the car along while the first guy dragged it behind his car.

My poor car didn't like the abuse, as we drove the front tire didn't even turn, but luckily the slick weather that caused the problem in the first place was now helpful and we were able to slide the car to a parking spot.

When we were done they all commiserated with me, offered me the best, and then shook my hand (and much to my embarrassment my hands were still clean but guy-with-the-chain's hands were covered in oil...that should have been me).

I went to the church meeting only slightly late. People could tell I'd been out in the snow for longer than the walk from my car and they asked why I was so wet. I explained I had an accident, everyone sorta nodded and the meeting went forward.

Oh well.

I was expecting to be released from my calling yesterday, but I guess that will have to wait. I carried out my usual duties while also dealing with calls to the insurance company (they were surprisingly helpful).

My car is now in an officially sanctioned insurance company repair facility. I'll probably hear an estimate of some sort today (if they're even open it being President's Day).

The timing really couldn't have been worse. I was going to drive to CA in a few weeks, but I'll have to take care of all this first. Hopefully it's not a great ordeal.

What was funny about the accident was how much it shook me up. Right after it happened I was sort of in shock. Someone told me that after I left the meeting the bishop (who came to the meeting late) asked around why I seemed so downtrodden and beaten up; I guess I wasn't as composed as I'd thought.

After the meeting I was still a lot earlier than everybody else so I started setting up the sacrament table for church. This was when I noticed that my hands had the shakes from the accident. After I got all the little cups in place on the tray my shaky hands knocked them all back out. It was very frustrating.

This was when I realized this was one of those days when it would have been better to stay in bed.

After I finally finished with the water cup trays I grabbed the bread trays. As usual, I tried to carry all four at once, but once again with my shaky hands I ended up dropping half of them when I moved. Luckily, when I dropped the trays the room that was empty when I'd begun was now full and I had plenty of spectators to witness my clumsiness.

I don't know why, but a lot of people find it humorous when I struggle. In most circumstances it's true that when someone falls and you don't know them personally it's funny, but if you do know them you have mixed feelings....both pity and a little laughter (cause hey falling is always a little funny).

Well, when I make a mistake I don't know why, but I don't seem to inspire much division in my friends. They are often excited to see me make a mistake. They usually laugh first and ask questions later.

This morning was no exception. As I dropped the trays a friend pointed her finger and laughed at me as I struggled to pick them up. Later, she confided that she enjoys watching me struggle...no matter what the endeavor: if I'm struggling it's amusing.

The rest of the day wasn't so bad after that. The speakers in church were quite good. The insurance company was helpful.

Hopefully the repair of the car won't be too expensive, difficult, or slow.

Well, that's my story for yesterday. Hope everyone else had a better day.