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I Did It
I was exhausted. I had spent the afternoon with a hospice patient who loved to talk. A lot. And as an introvert, it takes a lot of energy for me to pay attention and stay engaged. With my depressed immune system, I don’t sit regularly with patients, since I don’t want to challenge my own health. But I was sitting in for another volunteer.
So I listened and chatted for three hours—straight. In the past, most hospice patients are not in a condition to converse, never mind for three hours straight.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t paying proper attention when I left and backed out of the driveway. My bumper hit a post nearby, partly because I had parked far over on the right side to allow the patient’s wife to leave. I jumped out of my car, groaned over the damage on my bumper and saw that the post was still in place. I didn’t want to disturb the wife and patient over my carelessness, and they apparently didn’t hear anything, so I headed home.
About an hour later, the wife called me and said someone had hit the light post next to their driveway. Light post? Yes, you know the ones with globes on them; it had been knocked off and there was glass everywhere. Glass? Then the wife proceeded to tell me that even if I did it, she wouldn’t tell the police who were already there. (Her neighbor had called in the incident after hearing a loud bang and crash of glass.) The wife repeated she didn’t have to tell the police, but I insisted I return immediately, and drove over.
I walked up to the young police officer and explained that I had done the deed; that I didn’t realize it was a light post, since I didn’t hear the glass breaking and the post was intact; that I left because I didn’t think I’d done any damage to anything but my car.
Naturally, I was beyond apologetic, took full responsibility, and gave him my identification cards. It took several minutes to write me up. During that time, I spoke with the wife and her neighbor, who were very comforting and understanding, and I apologized for all the disruption, including the poor cleanup of the street crew. Finally, the officer told me that he was identifying it as a “crash,” not a hit-and-run. I thanked him profusely with a deep sigh of relief.
The point of my relating this story was about my decision: taking responsibility. I must admit that for a second, I considered not returning to the scene of the crime. But I quickly realized that the wife and her husband would know. That they would know I was willing to lie. More than all that, I knew I had to own up to what I had done, because I would be living a lie otherwise. The fact that I looked like a foolish old woman who was embarrassed for not paying better attention was irrelevant. I also realize that lately I have taken on a lot, and that I may be exceeding my stamina limits; I’m looking at that possibility carefully.
In all, everything turned out to reap blessings: the wife and neighbor hopefully appreciated my confession; the police officer was very kind and gave me the lesser citation. The repair will cost just over $1,000, so we will pay for it ourselves. But most significant, I was honest with myself.
I told the truth.
Published in Culture
Good for you for owning up and being truthful.
Talkers are exhausting. I could not do what you do.
A day full of good deeds! Give yourself a hug from all of us.
Poor Susan. You must be exhausted. Wow.
Of course you did the right thing. :) No surprise there. :)
I can empathize. When it comes to driving in tight quarters, especially backing up, I struggle. A back up camera helps, but not enough. My wife complains when I crowd a parking line on one side or fail to parallel a curb. Between and close are good enough for me. I’m perfectly capable of taking out a light pole or a mail box or two. In fact, my wife is surprised I’ve not done so already.
I also hate those guys with the crew cab 4X4s who insist on backing into a supermarket parking spot. I’m not impressed.
You stepped up and did the right thing, of course. I expected nothing less from a person of your character.
Sounds to me like the post was improperly placed, that it was foreseeable that this precise risk would accrue and that you were fortunate that your injuries were minor.
I am actually impressed by those that can back into a minimal space with a crew cab or, even more impressive, a trailer and lament my inability to do the same. My laments at times may seem like swearing but isn’t meant to be taken that way.
I’m happy that the officer used some discretion by calling it a crash.
Street lights and power poles usually have an ID number somewhere on the pole. If a pole is hit that makes a location notification call easy for the power company, and easy for a police report.
Your honesty comes as no surprise to me. I’m pretty sure the officer reached the same conclusion as well.
By the way, if you were cited you might need to submit a DMV accident report. Check with DMV. Failure to do so could result in an Administrative license suspension.
It happens to police officers that have been involved in an accident, to include on duty. That means desk duty until DMV receives their accident report.
I suspect a lot of people in your situation would have told themselves that since they had the accident in connection with/as a result of doing a good deed, it doesn’t ‘count’.
You are righteous.
I AGREE!
Thanks, Doug. I did ask him if I needed to do anything else, and he said no. Can I assume he would know? He did take down info but didn’t have me sign anything.
Good for you!
You did the right thing Susan but I would think the family should have had other things to worry about that were more important than a light pole.