When a Car Accident is Really a Blessing

Sometimes, something that seems really awful happens and it feels all stressful... Until it's not and you realize it's going to be a huge blessing.  Friday night I was driving home from work and suddenly traffic halted.  I slammed on my breaks, fingers clenched around the steering wheel praying that I wouldn't hit the car in front of me, and I didn't.  However, when I looked in my review mirror it was suddenly clear to me that the car behind me wasn't going to stop.  The minute that driver realized it wasn't going to happen he veered left, but didn't quite make it and his front right bumper collided with my left rear bumper.  The only thing I thought was "Oh this again" and we moved to the far left shoulder before being directed (by phone) by the Highway Patrol dispatch to meet an officer off the next exit where it was safe.

Surprisingly, I wasn't upset at all.  I was shaking from the adrenaline, but the couple in the car that hit me were so nice (he was from Wyoming, she was from California, and they were both graduating from BYU this April.)  We talked and made sure each other were alright, and upon greeting the officer suddenly it was clear that the officer and the wife of the driver had grown up together in California, neither knew that the other was here in Utah now.  It was a fun little reunion and they even had me take a picture of the three of them.  I also told them that if they needed an auto body shop they should check out Steve Whitlock's in provo, since my brother works there.  I am so grateful for nice cops, and nice honest people who stop.

Remember how I was in an accident in January where the other driver opened their door as I was pulling into a parking spot?  If not, here's the photo of that too: 

Yep, my car is now crunched on both sides... It's not looking to pretty.  Some funny coincidences happened with this accident though.  Not only did the driver's wife know the Highway Patrolman, but the car that hit me was the exact year, make, model, and color of the car I collided with in January, and the accident happened in the EXACT location of when I totalled my car 3 years ago.  I mean exact.  It's bizarre.  At least this time I had NO fault and didn't end up in a massive car pileup.  

What are the blessings?  Well I took my car in for an estimate today and it was funny to learn that the driver who hit me already had their car in the shop and my brother had been working on it.  The benefit to that is that the Highway Patrol's report was kind of bare and so I didn't know the other drivers insurance policy number, so my insurance was having a hard time getting everything settled.  The office manager put me right in contact with the other driver's insurance with the right number, and that insurance company was fantastic.  They are taking care of everything, including a rental car which they have already scheduled me for.  At this point I have nothing but praise for 

Extra bonus?  I wasn't going to take care of that front accident because I didn't want to pay the deductible, but since it's down there with my brother he can put it back together and pop out the dent for free (he just can't paint it or use company resources without charging).  So now my car is going to be (mostly) repaired on BOTH ends without me having to pay a dime.  This almost makes the whole second accident a blessing in disguise, don't you think?

I also got to have lunch with my awesome brother while I was down there.  He took me to a really awesome Chinese place in Provo and we were able to sit and talk, which is something we almost never do.  It was a fantastic bonding experience, and great to see both him and my sister-in-law when we dropped off some lunch for her at her work.  I'm calling that an extra blessing because I don't see them nearly enough.  

On another note, I'm working on the #100HappyDays project where you make sure you take the time to photograph one happy thing every day for 100 days.  I'm finding it helps me focus on the good things even when I'm frustrated or upset with other things in life, and ultimately I'm hoping it helps me count my blessings more often.  

Think about it, have you had any blessings in disguise lately?