R.I.P. Savannah: 2 Decisions & 20 Minutes

Oct 20, 2018
4 min read

The impact made such a noise that it drew people from their homes late that night. I had just put my toddler to bed and was picking up around the house when I heard it. At first I thought it was a transformer that had blown. However, when the electricity stayed on I noticed a light shining outside our home. I peaked out my bedroom window to see what was going on. That is when I noticed the people who had immediately responded to the sound outside by our driveway. I also noticed that my Honda Odyssey was not where I last parked it. In fact it was moved a whole van length backwards. " Oh no. someone has hit my van!" I hurried down the stairs to wake my sleeping husband and went outside. The sight that greeted me made my heart sink clear to my toes. The comfort of no car payments went up in smoke. The nostalgia of my 2007 Mother's Day gift rose up in my throat like bile. The whole panel of the driver side had been demolished and was currently intertwined with the car that had slammed into it head first.

The young driver was gingerly walking around his car getting his belongings. I noticed that his airbags had deployed, and was relieved that he was able to get out of the car by his own power. Since he was ok my next thoughts were of how I had spent two hours detailing Savannah the day before, and how I had just wasted $40 getting the oil changed that very morning! My perfectly clean; perfectly PAID FOR van was minding her own business, and this is what happened to her!

Slowly people departed back into their homes until it was just my husband, myself, a family friend, and the young man with his family waiting for the police to arrive and record the report. I sat there in the drive way taking in the scene, and hoping against hope that Savannah would be able to pull through. That I wouldn't hear the word "Totaled" anytime soon.

Slowly during our wait an idea began to itch at the back of my brain. I took in the scene, and thought back to several decisions that I made during night that had a direct impact on the outcome of this situation. This is what I discovered.

1) I left the family event around 20 minutes earlier then I wanted to because my youngest son was deliriously sleepy, and rather then have him "turn it up" in public I scooted him home and directly into the bed.

2) My husband parked at the end of our driveway leaving me no choice but to park on the street. I, at first, parked on right side of the drive way, but then thought better of it so I moved my van forward to the left side of the driveway.

These decisions were made without conscious thought for their consequences. I did what all people do with decisions that seem of no consequence. I looked at the two choices.. weighed the pros and cons,,, then chose.

Looking the scene again as the police took our statements; retrieved insurance information, and called for the tow truck a couple of scenarios entered my mind.

1) Had I not left the gathering when I did my children and I could have very well been in the van, or getting out of it when the young man came around the corner. Had we been in the car there is not way I would have escaped injury by the impact. Had we been getting out of the van one or all of us could have been directly hit by the car.

2) If I had gone with my first inclination to park on the opposite side of the driveway then my van would not have been there to keep the man's car from running directly into the tree that lives at the end of our driveway. No doubt his injuries would have been significantly more serious had he hit the tree instead of my van.

20 minutes... 2 decisions... and this situation could have been so much more serious.

Given that revelation it was difficult for me not to be at peace when the police officer told my husband that it would be a miracle if the insurance company didn't "total"Savannah. Affectionately named by my hubby, Savannah had been a surprise in 2007 for Mother's Day.She had only 3 miles on it when I drove her home. She took the boys to their first days of school. She was present for countless fishing expeditions, and road trips. Savannah had pulled through multiple accidents, and never failed to impress. Every mile recorded on the mile gauge meant something to our family, and now she was gone.

Three days later I went to the towing company's yard to collect my belongings. Savannah had indeed been totaled. I could see the tiny trimmers of stress trying to creep in to my mind and that of my husband. I stood fast, however. During those three days of waiting for the adjustors determination I came to the following conclusion. What happened that night was meant to happen. The decisions I thought I made had really been God's sovereignty at work to protect the young man, and also protect us. He knew exactly what it would take to get both tasks accomplished. In the end I got another Odyssey two years younger than Savannah and fully upgraded. And guess what? We were able to get it without having a car payment Hallelujah!

I often hear the phrase that hindsight is 20/20. That after a situation reflection often gives a clearer picture of why things happen. In this regard the early departure from a gathering could have very well saved my life and that of my kids. Deciding to park the van where I did definately saved the young man from serious consequence. Even after having to deal with his insurance company Allstate (horrible experience to be discussed in another blog), and the nerve-wracking process of selecting a new car I will say that I'd change nothing.