Memory Lane for just a Second

Hello,

I'd like to take this opportunity to look back at a time in my life and reflect on some the of memories that come to mind. In this blurb I'll visit my short life in Fredericksburg, Virginia back in 2002ish. Many of my memories are a blur as it was during a time that tested my will the most since my 23 years on Earth. For one I will never ever live in that state again. In general, life was sucking blood straight out of me in this unlucky state and the general population didn't help either.

Picture a child of mere 18 years old with a strong pride in her yankeedom suddenly shipped off to the middle of confederate America. Yes, it was interesting.

First of all, knock on wood, the only car accidents I've ever been involved in happened in this state and within one month of eachother. The first one is an interesting story; I did not own a car and a friend from New York was coming down to visit me so I needed to borrow a vehicle to pick him up at the mall. Let me let you in on a little secret, Virginia drivers are the worst ones imagineable. Try to picture a three year old in one of those red and yellow foot cars and then imagine them as grown ups and tansplanted to Virginia and you'll fully understand their skill level. This is the only state I've witnessed where it's common practice to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid hitting someone's rearend because they were following too close, just like everyone else behind them. I think my stepdad learned to drive in Virginia.

Anyway, my gracious stepfather decided I could borrow his champagne colored car to pick up my friend but I'd have to ride with him to a stop where someone else would pick him up. Sure, no problem it's the least I could do. We made it there without much excitement and I was preparing myself for the fun night ahead. I pull out of the parking lot and travel under a traffice light while merging to the left lane passing a student driver and getting ready to make my left into the mall where my friend was waiting.

Suddenly I hear this horrific crunch of metal and feel myself lose control of the car. No amount of force could move the steering wheel and I was headed straight for a cement median. I could feel time slow as I leaned my body to the right in hopes of leading the car away from impending doom to no avail. I hit the wall and I hit it hard. I was wearing a seatbelt so I didn't hit anything thankfully, however I did get bruises from the belt. After realizing I was stopped, and realized I hadn't hit any moving cars after crossing three lanes of traffic I looked up to assess the damage.

Out my windsheild I saw the car that hit me. It was a white four door sedan full of people and it was facing the opposite direction of traffic. It also had a Student Driver sign on top in bright yellow. Are you freaking kidding me? I couldn't help but laugh and then scream, probably at the same time. I got out and asked the driver how they could miss my car? Afterall they hit my right back quartpanel while trying to merge which means the driver had to be looking behind him to miss view of me. I never got a response.

Hours later, the cop finally got the information situation, the cars were taken away, and all the onlookers who could laugh had left the scene and I was dismissed to carry on with life. Luckily, I was in front of the mall when he hit me so I got to walka short distance to greet my friend with all parts in working order. Another wonderful thing about Virginia? They are a no fault state which means even if the guy was obviously driving blindfolded and smacked the shit out of my vehicle it;s not his fault and I get the insurance hit.

This memory still sticks out as well as a few others. This time period feels like another life besides my own and some weird things happened that I'll never forget. It was the transformation of a sheltered life to the wandering nomad I am today. It was the beginning of my awakening and you'll be sure to hear more about it as there's plenty more to disclose. Keep your eyes peeled!