This Isn't My Life!

This week while driving home after a run I had one of those "this really can't be where I am in life right now" moments.

Why? Glad you asked since according to one of my coworkers I spend a lot of time "introspecting" so I'm glad to be able to share some of the conversations that take place in my head.

Within one afternoon I went from driving Ravi, my fabulous little car that has taken this single girl on many adventures, seen a ton of miles, and just perfect for my carting around whatever gym bag, houseplant, or dog that needs transport....to this:

This freaking huge Volvo station wagon like thing with room for way too many car seats, the family dog, and 10 bags of groceries. Sure the technology on it is fun (once I figured it out) but it's not me. I seriously feel like it's lacking the family decals on the back window. Nothing to make you rethink multiple kids than having to drive something like this around.

Here I am day 3 and am counting down the hours until my Ravi is returned to me. Oh. Guess I owe you the rest of this story right?

In early February I was in an accident. All the people involved were okay but both Ravi and the car that hit me (a Volvo) had damages...the Volvo that hit me was in much worse shape than my car. (My body was sore but the ER doc checked me out and banned me from running for a while.) So there were 3 cars, mine was in the middle and most of the impact was between me (car #2) and car #3. Parts were ordered since they need to replace the entire back door and 3 bumper portions. I didn't realize it until the shop guys came to get their estimate, but I was hit so hard that the back left floor board buckled and the panel was popped out of place from the frame. But even asking 3 times he assured me it was okay to keep driving until the parts came in. The picture above is actually post accident, but after my coworker's husband pounded the bumper back on since while it was hanging off I really couldn't get in/out of my driveway!

So this week the parts came in and I traded in my car for that loud, obnoxious, diesel burning macchina. I don't think it's really as big as I think it is...but you all have heard the issues I have getting my own car into my driveway/parking spot so this is an unwanted challenge. Just how much of a challenge?

Since trading cars, I've been taking the round-about back neighborhood route so it's more of a straight shot into the driveway. Today I learned that the day care gets out at 4. The day care on the already narrow street and leaves only inches of clearance when cars are parked as i bambini get picked up. (Yesterday's added challenge was a large flatbed truck but I could at least pull over and wait for him to get out of my way.) After dodging kids and cars there was some traffic behind me and I really only had one shot to get the correct entry into the garage.

Have a mentioned that Italian drivers aren't the most patient of people? I needed to back up about 3 feet but 3 feet weren't there since I had a car practically on my back bumper and cars waiting in both directions on the main street.

Fortunately the driver behind me realized that no car could really move so he left his car to guide me in to the garage. I think he's my new hero. But yeah, this would be the reason that I refuse to take more than one trip out per day. Tomorrow and Sunday should be interesting when I'm making my escape during hours that people are actually awake. Ugh. Why did I let my "no plans" weekend turn into one with several?

The lesson learned on this one? Traffic accidents are just par for the course here in Naples. Hopefully I've checked this one off and I'll be good from here on on. Just in case though I need someone to teach me how to drive a manual transmission! I think I've tracked down a coworker willing to assist in that since as he put it, "If  I didn't kill either of my kids while they were learning to drive I think you'll be okay." Way better than the other offer that was amended by "you better have thick skin because I'm not patient." It's time I learn and it actually was on my 12 for 2012 list so nothing like a little motivation to get cracking on that one. This way I'll be able to rent some cute tiny car on my next adventure and not have to wait for the automatic to be "special ordered." Yeah. How ridiculous is that? It's like I'm living in Europe or something!