Shhh…. I have a secret

It’s been four months since the accident. Some things are better, some are the same, and time still marches on.

The truck was totaled. Well, there was $18,000 worth of damage done to it, enough that the insurance said she was toast.

Bye, Denver. You were an excellent truck, and my husband loved you dearly.

Enter Denver 2.0. New truck, same brand, same basic style, just as a crew rather than an extended.

Little-known fact: 6’7″ kids don’t fit well into extended cabs. Actually no grown adult, or half-grown kid, fits into an extended cab.

Yeah, we upgraded. We can afford it, and it was what he wanted.

Plus, I made them include a Llama pool toy in the deal.

It was blown up, sitting in a little tableau of a camping trip, nestled on top of a new Trailblazer. I like llamas. I decided I wanted it too. Many, many repetitions of ‘and the llama’ happened before they- the salesman and the finance manager- realized I was serious, and it was included in the deal.

Ridiculous- yes. However, I got it as part of the deal. Literally turned down the first three deals that didn’t include it.

Husband thought I had lost my mind. He was also sure they wouldn’t give in and include it.

They did and knocked the $5000 off the deal I requested. Which is why I do the deals and my husband watches.

Learned that one the hard way. He cost us $2000 on the last car he was allowed to help work a deal on. Never again.

It took a long time for me to be able to drive with anyone in the car. Hell, it took a while for me to even want to get in a car. I am still having issues, but I am employing ‘exposure therapy’ to help.

However, I still refuse to drive in Portland. I hate driving in Portland on the best of days. People drive crazy there. They don’t look when they change lanes, and they merge whenever they feel like it. I just can’t do it.

We had a girls’ weekend (my friends I have known since kindergarten) and met our other friends at her house, which happens to be in Portland. I couldn’t drive, so the other friend, who lives locally drove. I still ended up taking anti-anxiety meds. Then again, on the way back through.

Hubby and I have both started chiropractic and massage appointments once a week. Whiplash, etc., have messed up both of our backs. I started going due to a migraine that I had for three weeks. I couldn’t get an appointment with my PCP for a MONTH when I called. So, decided to see if chiropractic care would help.

Man, has it! I didn’t realize how out of alignment I was. I’m still not 100%, but then again, I doubt I ever will be again. Because, “when you get to a certain age….”

A phrase that I whole heartedly hate.

I have been out of school since right after the accident as well. It was just to much! Cancer, then the accident, the nightmares and the resulting trauma… I just couldn’t do it! I originally just took a couple of weeks off, and then something came up with my financial aid, and here I am three months later, restarting today.

I’m significantly behind my original plan. I had hoped to be done by Christmas this year. Not happening. I am shooting for March 2026 now. Sigh.