This morning I went outside early to work in the garden, came in for a while but was upstairs and hadn’t looked at the phone or computer. Then I went out to plant some seeds to get started for fall. Vince came out and said “Call Chad”. I came in as I was sitting down to call him, I looked at FB and had a message from him to call so I figured it was something important. Oh, yes . . on the way to work this morning, he hit a deer, totaled his pickup; killed the deer. I asked him if it scared him half to death and he said yes because the pickup came so close to rolling. He said “The airbag deployed!” It’s an old pickup but all he has and he didn’t have full coverage insurance so he wanted to know if he could borrow our pickup for a while. They do have a nice Jeep Grand Cherokee for their family vehicle but that’s what Nicole uses to get to work. Yes . . we had planned to go his house tomorrow anyway so we’ll just bring two vehicles and leave the pickup there.
I am so thankful he wasn’t hurt. Pickups can be replaced; a son cannot be replaced. I sat down to write my friend about it and started crying. I kept telling myself . . be thankful he’s ok. I am but still . . too close for comfort. We never stop worrying about our kids, do we?
You know what is so weird? Some of you may remember when he ran off the road, crossed over a culvert and the culvert ripped the bottom off the gas tank in his Mazda. It caught fire and totally burned. That was on August 10, 2010. Now, August 9, 14 years later, he totals another vehicle. The deer totally wasn’t his fault. The Mazda accident was his fault. In the Mazda accident, he had a passenger and neither of them were injured. The car burned just inches from a HUGE cornfield and in August, it’s hot and dry here. We were so lucky that corn field didn’t catch on fire.
I asked him if he remembered the date he wrecked the Mazda and he said “I know it was about this time of year. Tell me it wasn’t August 9.” I said “No, it was August 10, 2010.”
And, the pickup he wrecked today is the pickup he bought to replace the Madza. It wasn’t brand new when he bought it but the old guy who had it kept it in tip top shape and it looked new. Chad has had it for 14 years.
I’m not sure I understand everything he told me but he has a very good friend who is a great mechanic and does some amount of body work. This is the same guy who loaned Chad his trailer and 3/4 ton pickup to drive to Louisiana to pick up my grandpa’s old truck. This guy came out to where Chad hit the deer, picked up his truck so Chad didn’t have to pay for a tow truck; the guy knew someone with a truck the same year as Chad’s but it has something wrong with it. There’s been some kind of swap and Chad and his friend have already gone out and picked up the other truck and somehow, they’ve figured out how to put that engine in Chad’s pickup do some body work . . I don’t know but they think they have plan.
From this day forward, Chad shall not be allowed to drive in August! 🙂
cindy says
so very glad that chad is okay.
Pat Anderson says
That hug tomorrow is going to be the best ever! Thankful Chad is okay!!!
Donna in KS says
Judy, I so relate! Thankful that Chad is ok. Been there. We have three; not a one of my boys could be replaced. Several vehicles have been.
KATIE M PETERSON says
Oh dear!,lol ,,, I don’t think you can stop him… Glad he is ok.
Dottie Newkirk says
So scary, but so glad he’s ok.
Teri says
Very scary. Glad he is ok!
Sherry Bobak says
So glad that Chad is OK. Pick-ups can be replaced.
Carolyn says
So happy that Chad is safe and unhurt! Having had my son roll his car many years ago, after being clipped by another car, I’m so happy he didn’t roll. It’s so scary! Give that boy a huge hug tomorrow! ??
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I never need an excuse to hug my boy but tomorrow, it may be a little tighter and longer than usual. I’ll have to find him away from their friends so I don’t embarrass him.
Sandi says
I so glad your son is ok. Many years ago my son totaled his car but he wasn’t injured, thank goodness. It is scary thinking about what if. Hugs,
Danielle says
Oh they do manage to scare us dont they?! For years my dad had a 2d hand Honda Civic he bought. When he died, of course I inherited it and drove it for years – and then gave it to my son. I forget how old it was by then – probably in the 20’s with more or less 100,000 miles on it. It was a work horse that would not die…..until the night my son met head on with a big old deer in the fog! I dont think either one of them saw each other. Totalled the car of course and killed the deer. And yes, once the shock and all was over – and even knowing my son was perfectly all right – that is when I fell apart! So glad that Chad is ok!!!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
First, so glad your son was ok and second, thank you SO much for sharing that with me. I’ve felt like a wimp all afternoon because every time I think about it, I start crying. Vince thinks I’ve lost my mind. Tomorrow we go see Chad and the truck is at his house and lots of their friends are going to be there. I do not want to walk in the house bawling!
Kathy says
Your emotions are real. Feel them, it’s okay.
Cindy F says
I’m so glad Chad is okay and I think it’s okay to cry when you see him!!
RebeccaL says
I remember that first crash, and recognized the picture in my feed. I’m sorry that he had an accident today, and can only imagine how relieved you are.
RuthW in MD says
Chad’s friends will recognize your tears – fear and gladness at the same time, even anger at the danger he was in. Lack of help you could give him from a distance. Extra careful driving for Chad on August 9&10!
Sheryl says
..I’m so relieved that he’s ok. He sounds like such a smart guy. He’s already figured out how to make things better!
Julie Thomas says
I’m so sorry that happened to Chad. Thankful he’s okay and has a plan.
Joyce says
I’m so glad he is ok! Hitting a deer can cause so much damage to both the vehicle and the deer! There was a dead deer on the street around the corner from me this morning. It looked like it was still a fawn. I hate that someone hit it, but they just come out of nowhere.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, it’s so sad to see the babies. It was a beautiful buck that Chad hit – sad for the deer and sad for Chad!
c says
In Texas, after hitting a deer, you can call the game warden and they will come out and either give it to you or take it to someone who can put it to good use like feeding the homeless. Do they do that in Missouri?
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Not that I know of.