Pride comes before the Crunch...

Hmmm....Yes I think that today may be the day I find out how many check out this blog of ours....or maybe not. Anyway, this is life as I know it for this moment in time:

On the way to dropping Kevin off at the train depot for his, well, train, he comments to me how I look very comfortable behind the wheel. I agree! I say that I am indeed fairly confident with this left-hand driving craziness--roundabouts don't even freak me out anymore--now I just need to work on how to get where. I drop him off, the girls are happily chattering to each other in the back, and we're off! Thought I might head to the TESCO mecca for some popping corn (a rarity)....and I got lost. Go figure. Spirits undampened, I go with the maze of streets, turn around a few times, and then find myself in the narrow hazards that make up the City Center roadways. Ugh, the last place I want to be, but at least I have an idea of where I am right? Carefully negotiating oncoming traffic, parked lorries, messenger vans, pedestrians all on a road wide enough for a horse drawn carriage, I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.....I just have to make it past the 2 lorries parked on my side of the curving road. Hmmm, can you see something about to happen here? Truth. Even with my cautious approach and snail like speed, I still managed to put a pretty nice dent in the passenger side of the car. Those metal bumpers are wicked! Sadder still is that I had cleared the first lorry ok, it was the second one that did me in as I was trying to make way for oncoming traffic around the curve.

Ah pride, how you laugh at me this day.

In any case, the girls and I are fine. The car is drivable. My pride is wounded, not mortally unfortunately. The lorry driver was very kind, and even more understanding as Sarai chimed, "Mommy, did you break our car?", and Hannah finished with, "Oh no, I have to tell Daddy, and I will tell him the whole story...", from the back-seat. His vehicle, as might be imagined, was lightly dented on the metal framing around the back door. He said that it was slim that he'd need any remuneration for it, but still.... Information is exchanged, regrets stated, and now for the forgiveness. No lie, I feel like a tool right now. Nobody likes to wreck a car, but especially not in 'these economic times', and definitely not when your livelihood is based on the faithful generosity of others. No one likes to be humbled, especially when it costs. The price in my case is everything from Kevin's and my own trust in my driving abilities, financial responsibility for damages incurred to our car and possibly the lorry, the crummy blow to my confidence on so many levels. Ack.

I guess at this time, it would be best to feel the regret, feel sorry....yes, I'll soon stop wallowing in regret and this feeling of sub-level worth. And move on. God has been faithful. He will work some sort of good out of this (at least I'm pretty sure). Thank you Kevin for your forgiveness. Thank you Phil for dinner, encouragement, and the name/number of your man. Thanks Elaine for making me laugh and see beyond myself. Thanks Pauline and Dermot for the ice-cream to numb the pain and the reassurance that it really does happen to everyone (especially here). Thank you God that I am not alone, you are good to me.