When I went to the first class of my MFA degree I was surprised to find that the professor spent a lot of time focusing on Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who established the Order of the Interbeing. This is not a joke, not a funny. It is simply poignant Interbeing.
(people who've met me and plied me with liquor have heard my "poignant" harangue)
So you might say I was a bit taken aback. My writing workshop is a buddhist haven. We have three -- or is it four? -- meditation periods per workshop. We will meditate a lot. We will meditate to a bell.
Taken aback, I was, as I said. Rattled. Had drinks with students after. Some left early, others needed rides. So I offered. Driving home, we were talking about a whole lot of nothing, really, because this buddhist thing might work out. As skeptical as I sound, I withhold judgement; I think inside the jargon is quite a lot of truth. And then, apparently, I said,
"Oh my god..."
And then the minivan smashed into us as we were sitting there at the red light.
The two passengers, they said they were OK. The bumper is in shreds, the left taillight dead dead dead, and quite honestly my neck is a bit stiff. I have numbers in my pocket and will deal with things tomorrow.
For tonight, just picture it, me running to the back of his car in the storm to see his license plate, vaguely wondering what he's doing with those two lanky little daughters out at 11:30pm, rain splat splat on the black asphalt and the tremor of regret shimmering all around.
There is, sure, more to the story. Will students be mallebeable and meditate? Will the driver of the smashmobile pay up? Will I be able to sit up tomorrow without terrible pain -- and will my passengers?
Tune in tomorrrow(ish), my friends.
Oh no!
Posted by: Gwenda | August 29, 2006 at 03:52 AM
That sucks! Good thing for you mini-vans are made with so much plastic up front that they tend to collapse and not just ram through your car like an SUV would have.
Hope you and your passengers still feel okay this morning.
Posted by: Dan Wickett | August 29, 2006 at 04:30 AM
Thanks guys! You're right, Dan, I didn't even think of that when I was feeling sorry for myself last night. Whew.
Posted by: Carolyn | August 29, 2006 at 07:30 AM
Ugh! Hope everyone feels all right today. I'll also throw in a wish that the guy has excellent insurance.
Posted by: erin | August 29, 2006 at 07:56 AM
Erin has the best wish of all with the call on the insurance.
Posted by: Dan Wickett | August 29, 2006 at 09:40 AM
I'm glad you're ok!
Talk about a day of extremes.
Posted by: Alan | August 29, 2006 at 11:49 AM