I totaled the 2003 Chevy Impala last nite. I was coming home from my mother-in-laws in Issaquah. I left around 6.30pm because I wanted to be on the road when it was still remotely light. It was raining heavily and visibility was poor. I made it off I-90 to I-405 and then to I-5. I hate interchanges and most of my worry was there.


I got to Everett and that's where everthing fell apart. I was following 2 other cars and we were going a bit under the speed limit. I saw other cars sliding a bit so I let off the gas to slow down and just roll thru it all. But that didn't work. I ended up hydroplaning and hit the barrier twice. Fortunately, I didn't hit anybody else AND I did NOT have the kids in the car.


Rough estimates said that the front end would take about $5-6k and so would the back end. Which, in the end, be more than what the car is worth at this point. The main reason the car is totaled is because the engine cradle was thrown 3 inches off (or so). For a Chevy, that means it's totaled.


I was on the phone with 911 within seconds after it happened. A couple of other vehicles pulled over to make sure I was ok. I gave a thumbs up and it was all good, as well as good could be.


I wasn't messing with my phone. I wasn't messing with the radio. Daydreaming, etc. My eyes were glued on the vehicles in front of me. But still, this shit happens.


As well, the Impala was my father's father's car. When he died in 2003 (or so), my father inherited the car. It was later given to me to use. This Labor Day Weekend, we will be looking for a safe, used car. I am currently driving the old Chevy S10 and... I was a bit fearful of driving the truck. No power steering, fat wheels (not stock) and well, it's a very differnt machine compared to what I'm used to driving now. Yet, driving it 2 hrs back north to home, I was pretty comfy. The new tires handle well and because it's a manual, I can feel the power better (than the Impala's V6).


I lived and that's gotta count for something. In any case, I think I'm handling things pretty well. I'm bummed about stuff. I'm irritated. Slightly freaked about driving in general. I made it to Bellingham, never went over 70mph (due to the truck in general, hauling stuff and watching the tarp bellow and well, I didn't feel like I was in a hurry to get anywhere.


Peace.






After it was all said and done, I felt like the USS Enterprise 1701 after Kahn beat the shit out of it in Star Trek 3: Seach For Spock (y'know, when it's pulling into the space port back on Earth...)