Today I got hit by a van.
The guy driving it was parked where he shouldn’t have been, and when the person he was waiting for hopped in, he launched the thing into reverse (not thinking for a moment that he had…oh, I dunno…PARKED ON A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING) and managed to bump into me as I made my way across the road. Being what could be charitably described as built along “robust” lines I was able to keep my feet and loosed a torrent of angry shouts at the driver, as did a colleague of mine who happened to be with me at the time.
Surprisingly the driver seemed angry at me – I don’t know why, perhaps he thought my arm would dent his bumper – and off he went on his merry way. I know it sounds stupid but by that point I was so angry and had gotten such a fright that I forgot to take his registration number and report the daft bastard to the coppers. I’m fine – a little tender around the right wrist but otherwise undamaged.
Actually now I think about it there must have been something in the air today when it comes to new experiences to do with motor vehicles. Today I changed a lightbulb in my car and was damn proud to have done it, too. Okay, laugh away. I know MCF is probably calling his dad through to come look at the guy on the web who is so proud of himself for having changed one single lightbulb. All I will say in my defence is that it was a first for me and that I have an arts degree, so doing anything involving hardware is a big step for me.
So there we go. Talk about the school of hard knocks.
December 14th, 2005 at 3:51 pm
the van driver was probably angry because you slowed down his escape…
December 14th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
He was probably reacting in anger because he was mortified and scared witless that he did something so stupid and nearly committed vehicular manslaughter. I’ve seen a number of people react with anger in situations where the appropriate response is abject apology. I think it’s a psychological self-defense thing.
December 17th, 2005 at 4:41 am
When my dad and I got hit last year, and the mini van that struck us was undamaged but our bumper was totalled, the first thing the wife of the driver did was get out and start screaming at my dad at the top of her lungs, saying he ran the stop sign(wholly untrue). I’m sorry, but if you don’t even slow down and slam into an old man and spin his car around, in my book “are you ok?” is the FIRST thing that should be asked, and not at all in loud tones.
I also had someone back into me while I was on foot, but thankfully she was a friend and apologetic. Most people are either complete dicks, or the anger is a defense mechanism masking their own guilt and preempting us (justifiably) yelling at them.
I won’t laugh at the lightbulb. Car bulbs are small and tricky like Christmas tree bulbs. First time I tried to remove a burned out taillight in my car, I squeezed just to hard while turning and shattered it. That was interesting to get out. And now that he’s 75 with carpal tunnel syndrome and limited dexterity, I assure you my dad would only be impressed and envious of your accomplishment.