Except for the White house Christmas tree that spent a night in our town, we have had a relatively uneventful week here in Knoxville. The leaves on our trees are all but gone, and our serene neighborhood must now contend with a chorus of leaf-blowers sounding off in a roar so loud it makes my teeth hurt. From my man cave, I watch through the window at some very active chipmunks filling their winter stores with the nuts once covered by a thick bed of leaves.
My activity level moves at a pace much slower than that of the chipmunks. I go to therapy for my knee three days a week; do strengthening exercises when I’m not in rehab, and sit under an ice pack the rest of the time. I’m making steady progress however as measured by the degree of bend in my surgically replaced knee. When I began physical therapy, my bend measured 115 degrees. The goal is 125 to 130. My latest measurement (after a lot of screaming and sweating) came in at 141. I’m now able to drive and, driving to therapy resulted in the only other noteworthy event this week. Read on.
My rehab center, Prompt Physical Therapy, is about three miles from my home and, on Monday of this week, I threw on a pair of gym shorts and a sweatshirt and jumped into my car for another session with Steve, Mary Catherine, and Grace, the wonderful therapists who are helping me heal. Due to some persistent stiffness in my right leg, I tend to drive slow, allowing for extra reaction time to apply the brakes if needed. As I approached the therapy center, I slowed down to make a right turn into the parking lot when, WHAM—something or someone hit me from the rear and moved me forward into the parking lot. Next, that something veered to the left from my rear and ran headlong into a car coming from the opposite direction. The entire episode lasted less than 10 seconds.
“Holy (expletive)!” was my immediate reaction before I gathered myself enough to get out of the car and see if I or anyone else was hurt. I was fine, and the fellow who ran into me was already standing beside his Mercedes and talking into the OnStar system that was alerted to the crash. I overheard him tell the operator that he was fine and ask her to notify the police and call for a wrecker. A policeman arrived almost at once. Patrons and therapists came out to witness the scene.
The lady driving the other car eventually came out from under her airbag and walked out to join us. Other than a blow to her nose from the airbag, she was not hurt seriously, just understandably shaken. Oddly, the propellant from the airbag caused a chemical burn on the sleeve of her shirt.
Since both of their cars were blocking the road, the policeman gathered information from each of them first. As that was going on, the wrecker arrived and hurriedly began setting up to prevent other wrecker operators from moving in and stealing the bounty. I used the time to assess the damage to my car.
My car, a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser is my most prized possession. I named this car Freddie and I refer to Freddie as my toy. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of toys including, boats, motorcycles, four-wheelers and campers. I even had an MGB sports car once although, with my 6’ 4” frame, it wasn’t a good fit. Freddie is perfect for me and, the day before, had just passed 66,666 miles on the odometer.
Freddie is roomy on the inside, and unique on the outside. I keep it polished to a high gloss and rarely let Freddie out of the garage if there is even the threat of rain. Freddie has taken me to some lovely places in our mountains and I’ve shared a few pictures here. Toyota doesn’t make this car anymore which only adds to the appeal.
On this day however, Freddie absorbed a blow to the bumper that resulted in a cantaloupe-sized inward bend. Miffed at first—there was not a scratch on Freddie until now–I soon realized that, of the three cars involved, Freddie was the lucky one. The lady’s car was probably totaled, and the Mercedes would require extensive repair if not totaled as well. Neither car was driveable in their current condition and soon departed on the bed of a wrecker.
The three of us shook hands after exchanging information. Almost immediately, I took a phone call from the insurance company of the Mercedes owner, assuring me of proper care and treatment for the bend in Freddie’s bumper. I turned and went inside for treatment on the bend in my knee…grateful that I am still Easin’ Along and mindful that things could be a lot worse.
Note: Easin’ Along will take a little time off for activities with family and friends. Please know how grateful we are to have our readers join us each week and Helen joins me in wishing each of you a blessed and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
Wow – how quickly things like this can happen! Hubby Bill and I were in a wreck on Kingston Pike in November 2018 and our prized Subaru Outback didn’t fare as well – so we’ve had to purchase a replacement. So glad you and Freddie came out with only ‘the bends’! Look for Bill Tapp at Prompt – he’s going to Steve and crew for neck injuries from our wreck!
Hi, Jeanne,
Great to hear from you, but sorry about your “bender”. I’m sure that Bill loves the people at Prompt as much as I do—they’re awesome. I’ll be looking for him but tell him I said hello.
Oh, my goodness! I am so glad that you who were the drivers were relatively unscathed and that Freddie lives to drive on to many new adventures. I do understand your devotion to Freddie because I have ElCee, my cherished 1991 Land Cruiser. It was love at first sight that summer day in ’91 when I saw her sitting there on the Toyota lot, waiting. VB never felt the love; so, for the last 28 years, she has been mine, all mine. She, too, is almost flawless, absolute perfection. We shall not discuss her gas mileage. Many of the younger set have looked lustfully at her and she is desired by one Knoxville surgeon and several others who have made temptingly firm offers. I stand unswayed. But love of an auto is a thing apart, understood only by those who have experienced such. I plead guilty. Any way, may you and Freddie enjoy many, many more years of shared highways and byways. I suspect that like ElCee, Freddie doesn’t take part in your long-distance rambles; but I feel certain that you must agree that it never fails to be satisfying to come home to them waiting safely garaged at home.
Good morning Gail,
A 1991 Land Cruiser in mint condition truly is a thing to treasure. I’m so grateful that the damage to Freddie is minor and we can continue Easin’ Along together happily for many more years. Maybe I’ll bring him over to play with ElCee…who knows but, I think he likes older women ;-). Thanks for stopping by.
Glad to hear everyone is okay. It’s still a bummer that you got hit. Our parked F250 was hit in the RV Park by a distracted 80-year-old woman. We’re all fixed up now via her insurance.
Hi!
Thank goodness for insurance. I thought this event was going to be a fight, but it couldn’t have gone smoother. I was thinking about you this week. Our son was in your area and sent pictures of snow of all things. Did you get any?
The tops of the mountains, especially near the Superstitions did receive snow, but none in the valley other than some hail. Flagstaff got lots of snow and Snowbowl is super happy!
Wow,
Would have liked to be at Lost Dutchman for the event. Stay warm out there!
Joe, I am sorry about Freddy. Freddy will get help. It is something to be grateful for that no one was seriously injured. Enjoy your family and friends this Thanksgiving. David
Hello, David,
We’re all healing well and we have a lot to be thankful for. Have a blessed holiday weekend.
Hi, Joe – I had thought that I had commented earlier, but I must have been distracted when pressing send. I am taking care of our granddaughters this weekend, so distraction is easy. I am glad to hear that all drivers were unharmed and that no one was excessively grumpy. Wishing you a great break and holiday time with your family.
Hi, Donna,
Distractions with granddaughters are understandable. I miss mine very much. Enjoy the time and please stay in touch. All is well here.
Joe, thankful that you and Freddie are both repairable! He is a handsome vehicle and deserves to lead the way on many more excursions. Prompt is an amazing place! I’ve been going since maybe March, but once a week now to keep my back in reasonable shape. They’re miracle workers!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and we’ll look for ya on the road again!
Hi, Susan,
Freddie and I are on the mend. He is probably doing a bit better than I am, but that’s ok. Have a great Thanksgiving as well, and thanks for stopping by. Maybe I’ll see you at Prompt–I signed up for another round of sessions.
Aww, poor Freddie. Glad no one was seriously injured, but I know how much it hurts to see a beloved vehicle get a beauty mark. Sounds like Freddie will be fixed up in no time.
Congratulations, Joe, on the wonderful progress you’ve made with your knee – that’s quite the improvement in mobility! Keep being a good patient, and enjoy a lovely and blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends!
Hi, Mary,
Thanks for referring to Freddie’s bend as a beauty mark–that puts everything in an entirely new perspective. We’ll have the beauty mark removed very soon and all will be right again. Have a great Thanksgiving and stay warm up there.
Hi Joe,
Sorry to hear about your accident and the injury to Freddie but glad no one was seriously hurt. Fortunately, it’s a pretty minor one especially compared to the other vehicles involved. Glad to hear too of your hard work and excellent progress with your knee. Several friends of mine have had similar surgery and all have said that the PT is key.
Hope you and your family has a blessed Thanksgiving! Your veteran friend in NC,
Hello, Ron,
It’ physical, it’s therapy, and it works! My old bones have certainly benefited from the work of a great crew at the center I use. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I know you join me me wishing the same for our brave folks in uniform.