I like living in a college town. Even Ames (or L'ames, as it is periodically derided) has an independent movie theater, two different coffee houses, and an omnipresent bearded homeless transvestite. Unfortunately, as a college town it also has its share of newly independent 18-year-olds with pickup trucks and delusions of invincibility, which came home to me on Saturday when d.w. was rear-ended while sitting at a stoplight:
Thankfully she was fine, although she's had lots of x-rays, a referral to a physical therapist, and some chiropractic visits as a result of nagging back pain. Chins was home with me at the time, awaiting Mama's triumphant return after hours working in the studio. Of course, we still had to shell out a few hundred bucks for a new carseat, but hopefully the guy's insurance company can reimburse us for that. We'll see — I'm not holding my breath.
But you know what the kicker is? This is the second time our little car has been run into by a pickup-driving teenager with delusions of invincibility in the two years since we bought it. And last time the car had all of about 500 miles on it.
We were thinking about turning Chins' carseat around to face forward after his birthday on Saturday, but now I think we'll leave it as is for awhile, even if his knees are practically under his chin...
Ouch! I'm sorry about Drake's "run-in"... You ever think about moving up to something more substantial? That Scion may work in wussy California or surrender-monkey France, but you live in the US-of-Freakin'-A!
Drake would look cute behind the wheel of a yellow Hummer...
Posted by: Christian | 14 November 2007 at 02:09 AM
I'm cringing that I'm about to do this, but... If Chins was in the car during a crash, he'd be much safer if the chest buckle was up closer to his armpits. Or was that just a quick buckling-in for the picture?
My 18 month old is still rear-facing. She's only 20 pounds though!
Posted by: Amy | 14 November 2007 at 03:06 AM
Sorry to hear about that and I hope that DW is feeling better soon. Rather than putting DW in a Hummer, how about if we put all 18-year-old drivers in Scions? Or, better yet, on scooters? You're right, that's not fair--we should put them on mopeds. Goodness knows I should have been on one. Oh wait, I was actually on my bike half the time, since I didn't have my very own pickup truck to drive around.
Posted by: Papa Bradstein | 14 November 2007 at 05:42 AM
Can I add one thing:
Kids these days! *poking at the air with my cane*
Posted by: Papa Bradstein | 14 November 2007 at 05:45 AM
Yep, rear-facing to the limits of the seat (33 lbs or head even with top of shell for you) is the current recommendation. You've got a great seat for that! I love our Marathon!
And the insurance should definitely cover the replacement seat. Pitch a fit if they don't.
Posted by: Amanda | 14 November 2007 at 07:08 AM
You have some bad luck! While I have crashed on my bike because of the darn kids in town, my car remains safe.
Posted by: Danielle in Iowa | 14 November 2007 at 08:04 AM
These kids today, they are bastards, aren't they :)
Posted by: Art Nerd | 14 November 2007 at 09:39 AM
Christian: You know, I have a really hard time picturing my wine-sipping francophile expatriate brother shouting "US-of-Freakin'-A!"...careful not to get all that jingoism on your loafers.
Amy: I do my best, but that boy has the weirdest geometry.
PB: I don't think teenagers around here would know a Japanese car if they ran over one with a truck. Oh, wait...they have.
Posted by: zygote daddy | 14 November 2007 at 12:40 PM
It's the Scion. The two other people I know that have them have had the worst luck with people hitting them too. It's like a bullseye!
Glad no one was seriously hurt. Hope DW gets feelin' right quick! (It took me almost a year for my back to stop hurting so make sure she keeps up with her appointments. Don't want her crippled!)
Posted by: samantha Jo Campen | 14 November 2007 at 08:33 PM