You can't always cross the bridge when you come to it ...

The city of Halifax is located on a peninsula, so reaching it from the Dartmouth side requires crossing one of two bridges, or taking the public transit ferry.

When I head into town for my "Lunch bunch" choir in downtown Halifax on Fridays, I cross via the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge. 

If you had been  following me today around 11:30 you would have seen me driving down Nantucket and stopping at the red light at Wyse Road and then, all things being equal, I'd pass through the intersection, the toll booths, cross the bridge, and then head for choir.

I was a good girl.

I stopped at the red light and when the red light turned to a green arrow for me to proceed across I went warily, mindful of the two dim bulbs illegally turning left across my path.

I didn't however, count on there being a THIRD dim bulb.

I laid on the horn but it was too late.  The back end of dim bulb's truck TORE OFF the front of my beloved little Honda Fit.  

Did I mention that this is a major intersection ?

I got out of my car, started shaking, and within seconds had turned into a sobbing,blithering, idiot.

People stopped.  Four different people pressed pieces of paper with their phone numbers into my trembling hand; offering to be witnesses.  

No impatient horns honked.  People offered only sympathy and concern.

Someone asked "Did you call 911?".  So I did, and handed my phone to the total stranger saying: "I can't talk right now.  Can you please tell them?".  And he did.

In the midst of it all I sobbed to the Harbour Commission fella that I needed to call the Church to say I wouldn't make it to choir.  He looked up the number, dialed it, and handed me his phone.

The dim bulb (to give him credit) did stop and ask me if I was OK.  He even offered to pick up pieces of my car that were strewn around the intersection and put them in the back of my wounded car.

The headlight is totally missing on the other side.  BUT note the lack of hood damage !

I guess I am lucky that we didn't really have a solid impact, and it was more like a glancing blow and as a result the air bag didn't deploy.  (Recently I'd received a helpful recall notice kindly informing me that there was an eensy-weensy chance that my car's air bag might randomly explode and there was a further teeny tiny chance that said random deployment might fire shard of shrapnel into me.*)
So you can see why I'm sorta glad the bag didn't work.  

One by-stander helpfully suggested I take photos of the scene.  Wish he'd also reminded me to NOT put my finger in front of the lens.

Two Bridge Harbour Commission cars with flashing lights were on scene within two minutes.
The police car, fire truck and ambulance were there within five.
Statements were taken and information exchanged.  A tow truck was summoned.  
An hour later the officer drove me to the car rental place.

My neck is a mite sore and maybe my back a bit.  I'll monitor and if need be I'll  go to my doctor on Monday, but really, I'm lucky.

I'm glad I didn't have the dogs with me in the car.

I'm glad strangers stopped to be kind.

I'm glad the officer drove me to the car rental place.

At this moment I'm back home and there is a black VW Jetta rental  parked in my driveway.

The adjuster called and said that the insurance company will pick up the rental costs (assuming my witnesses corroborate my story, which I am sure they will) .    

Just had my second rum and coke to settle my nerves then I may just have a little lie down.

My friend Pat says that things happen for a reason.  I don't know if that's true, but perhaps if we work at it we can make something positive come out of something negative.  It is a "temporary" bump in the road.  I am still here and grateful to be so.

Doesn't THIS put it all into perspective ?

* Just in case you're wondering they'll have those less-lethal, new air bags ready for installation in late Fall !

** Just got a call from the officer involved and he has charged the other driver meaning that I won't be having to pay for the rental etc.  

I am relieved and a little tipsy.