Kismet

[soliloquy]

I have been visiting with a violinist friend of mine for the past couple days, and this afternoon he was teaching lessons.  Well, this is a friend that I visit regularly, so I am used to all the curves etc. of his driveway, and the mechanics of the reverse out of the carport have become habitual.  So as I pull out, I feel a big "thud", and look back, to my horror, at the red Dodge Durango of one of his young student's mother!  I pull forward a bit and get out, panicked and grief-stricken only to find that the very back left corner of my bumper had hit the rubber part of the Dodge's tire.  Of course I told her that I had hit her car, but she was very nice, and the only noticable damage was a little scuff on her tire!  If I was going to hit this car, what is the probability that I would hit it like that?


I think we usually always think we have bad luck, because it's the injustices that stick in our minds, but sometimes something like this happens to remind you that it's not always like that.  Have you had any other experiences like this?

[pianistimo]

i thought this was about the musical 'kismet.'  bellydancing.  arabic.  etc.  it's a rather entertaining musical - but i suppose implies the other kind of 'divine.'  the kind that is rather like 1001 arabian nights (which i've read, btw).  it is seriously hilarious - and brings out many points, as shakespeare would, about the character of different people.  a must read.  and kismet, a must see.

ok.  so this is about surprising good things.  well, as it so happens - i was backing up at a grocery store at the same time as a teenage boy (behind me, and across and to my right)  he backs his smaller audi? up towards his right- and i back up to my right.  thankfully, we are both careful drivers and never back up fast.  in fact, we were going at such a snails pace that when we hit - it was such a small surprise - we both hit our brakes because the sound was like a tight fit squeal.  as if one is squeezing into the smallest parking lot available and hit the rim to the sidewalk.

i get out - and i can see on his face the expectancy of curse words or worse yet 'let me see your driver's license and proof of insurance.'  he doesn't expect a person that regards their car simply as a way to get from A to B.  as long as it drives - (although it's the better vehicle i've had) i don't care so much what it looks like.  well, there's a small scratch to the bumper where the paint is chipped off - but how should he or i know if he did it?  and, also, i think - i'm the bigger car and so it would be obvious to my way of thinking that if anyone is at fault - it would be me.  i don't see any damage on his bumper either.  so - i say - if you don't care, i don't care.  the look of relief on his face was precious.  i guess i have a similar feeling to you - about what to worry about in life.  if you only worry about little scratches - it's just going to come back at you in some other form.  someone else will pick a small detail they don't like about you.

i think 'what goes around, comes around.'  whether this is divine or not - i leave up to you.  i think it is.

[pianistimo]

this isn't to say, however, that one shouldn't immediately write all of your recollections down of the incident.  including the position of the cars (before they move).  taking down the license plate of the other car - in case it speeds off.  and, also, the consciousness of the driver.  holding a cell phone?  are you holding yours?  i'd say put the durn thing away.  little details make the story side one way or the other unless it's a matter of one car being stationary.

i think driving while talking on a cell phone is illegal in nj and that some measures were taken (stiff fines) for teenagers on their insurance policies or ticketing that makes this a bad mark on your record.  i'd just use them for emergencies - because they will always mark against you.

i never back up while on a cell phone - and really try to stay off of them.  also, if you pull forward to a spot that you can drive forward out of when you leave - it saves worry.