A couple of weeks ago, I went out early on a Saturday morning to run some errands. I had some coupons for drug store and grocery store items. I went to Wal-Mart and spent some time there. Next I went on to Walgreen’s. (Those two places open up really early, so I can get those checked off my list and then go on to places that don’t open until 9:00 or 10:00. At least that was my plan.)

I pulled into the Walgreen’s parking lot and drove around to the parking area. I pulled in to an empty slot (and, since I was an early customer, there were plenty of available spaces), going slowly as I pulled up to the concrete barrier in front of the curb. I had my foot on the brake as I neared that barrier, and then I pressed gently on the brake to stop the car.

Then, I’m pretty sure, I pressed harder on the brake to stop the car, but my foot slipped off the edge of the brake pedal and thonked onto the gas pedal. I heard the sound of the engine revving, as it tried to press the car forward, seeming to be determined to get over that barrier. Which it ultimately did. You’ll be relieved to know that I did not slam into the wall of Walgreen’s. I slammed into a brick pillar, instead.

I was, as you might imagine, really rattled. REALLY RATTLED! I got out of the car to check on the pillar. Someone came out of Walgreen’s, looking somewhat alarmed.

She asked if I was all right and I said yes, even though I didn’t feel all right. I wasn’t injured; but I didn’t feel all right.

She looked at the car and the pillar and went back inside. I called David, who wasn’t home. And then I went into Walgreen’s. That Walgreen’s lady was back behind the cash register, checking out people and also talking on the phone. She saw me and said, “I didn’t know what to do. So I called Walgreen’s.” And I said, “Of course.”

After checking out the customers and finishing up her call, she said, “I’m the only one here.”

I said, “That doesn’t seem like a good idea.” Even though it was pretty early in the morning and there were few customers, I thought there should be at last two employees there.

She said, “Well, I’m the manager and I make out the schedules, and I just scheduled me for early this morning.”

Ah.

She said that Walgreen’s said they’ll need a police report. I said, “Of course.” So she called the police.

I called David again, and he was back home and he came on over. Then the police came. They were very nice.

I took pictures. The Walgreens manager took pictures. The police took pictures.

I was concerned about the pillar, which is brick. One of the officers eased my mind. He said that, under the brick, there’s a concrete reinforced steel core. “You don’t have to worry,” he said. “That pillar isn’t going anywhere. The roof isn’t going to cave in.” Whew!

Before too long, the manager was back at business, the police left, David took the car to the Buick dealership, and I, instead of running any more of those errands, went home. In David’s car. I was done for the day.

At the Buick dealership, the Collision place isn’t open on Saturdays. David took it back on Monday, which was a Monday holiday, so not open. On Tuesday, he was able to get a detailed estimate. I took that to the insurance place on Wednesday, along with the police report w/case number. An agent looked at everything and then called the main State Farm folks and gave them my name, and then handed the phone over to me. They knew my policy number and information. They asked, “Did the police come?” “Yes, and here’s the case number.” “You’ll need an estimate.” “I have that.” (A bit of silence.) “We’ll need to see if that dealership is on our list.” I gave him the name. “Yes, we work with that dealership. Your deductible is $1000.00.” “Ah.” I sort of got the idea that these conversations sometimes take much longer. Well, it’s not our first time. Okay. It is the first time I’ve run into a building.

David’s still mulling over whether we should pay the whole cost of the car repair, in case out premiums would rise substantially. And, the insurance company deals with Walgreen’s. I look when I drive by, but I haven’t noticed any work going on.

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.