Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Sandstone

The day after getting in a car accident, we got back on the horse, so to speak, and drove down to Colorado Springs, about an hour away. Torsten drove the way there, to give me some time to adjust, and I drove the way back after the guys had a couple beers with lunch.

The drive down was... well, it was fine really. We were all a bit skittish (example: whenever we saw brake lights in the distance Torsten's friend and I would both be like, "Be careful!" and at one point we both said, "Keep your eyes on the road!" even though poor Torsten WAS keeping his eyes on the road).

The worst part was when we got into a bit of traffic in a construction zone. It wasn't much, but it was slow and required braking. And every time Torsten hit the brake even the tiniest bit harder than a gentle tap, my heart started pounding.

The way back, with me driving, was mostly OK. Being behind a truck or SUV that blocked my view made me nervous. I kept expecting to suddenly see a wall of brake lights right in front of me, and of course that didn't happen. I didn't freak out and I was able to drive normally and stay in control, but I was relieved when we got home and I was able to stop.

Of course it doesn't help that we're driving a rental Kia until our car is fixed, and it's bigger than our car and also doesn't handle as well, and I don't know it that well so it's harder to judge when parking, and you know what? When you get in an accident, even when it's minor, apparently after that you worry about all things driving-related, including situations that are totally unrelated to whatever caused the accident. Or at least, that's what happens to me.

I think the last hurdle will be, at some point, driving past the scene of the accident. I don't think I'm quite ready for that one yet.

But we had a lovely time in Colorado Springs, at a brewery and at the famous Garden of the Gods park. So, the stressful driving was worth it. (Full set here.)



13 comments:

  1. I'm sure with time the nervousness will fade - and you already drove some good for you!!
    Love the pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  2. As Devan said, give yourself a little time to shake the feelings from the accident. You'll be fine. And that park? Well, I think I'd be driving there every weekend, accident or not ... it's gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm impressed that you drove the next day! I would be too shook up! Also, the pictures are beautiful. What an amazing landscape!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Glad you guys had a good time. After my accident last fall I took a different route to work for months (didn't help that the officer told me accidents happen there all the time). But I had to take that route to my next job, and I was fine. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  5. those pics are gorgeous. i just looked at a friend's album from the badlands yesterday, and between you two i now really want to go someplace and look at rock formations! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I absolutely LOVE Garden of the Gods...and honestly it sounds like the perfect place to unwind a little from your accident. (By the way, I can *totally* relate with the post-accident jitters...they do go away though)

    xox

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely photos, and well done for getting back behind the wheel.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was in a car accident in college, on the freeway, in the rain. It was the exit I had to get off at to get to school, so I drove past it many, many times in the next couple of years, coming home from visiting my parents and such. Now, I drive past the exit with my husband without so much as a butterfly and tell him about how I nearly totalled my car there, but the other two cars walked away scot free. But, I do remember the nervousness for a long time, and it's no fun.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dude. Just getting caught up here. Glad you guys are OK.

    Even though we have an SUV, I hate being stuck behind them (or anything bigger) when I drive the van. I hate not being able to see, for fear of the same thing happening to me.

    It's great that you got right back behind the wheel. LOVE the photos, to boot.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glad you got behind the wheel again. Way to punch fear in the face.

    The Garden of the Gods is one of my dad's favorite places on this earth. He loves it. Glad you enjoyed yourselves!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I wrecked my car so many times, I know how that must feel :( I hope the fun times will help the bad memory fades though, love those pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad that you made it down to GOTG- I love that place. Try to go down sometime this winter- it's pretty amazing with snow on the trees too!

    ReplyDelete