My kiddo is 17.  Wouldn’t let her start learning to drive until the Spring after her 16th birthday (I personally don’t believe 15 year olds should drive…especially with the emotional vicissitudes they have).  She wasn’t overly pleased about that, but figured there was some wisdom there so she didn’t complain.  Then I didn’t push her, so she took her time learning, completing her hours and didn’t get her license til a few weeks after she turned 17. 

 Prior to her getting her license, I worried about what insurance was going to cost me.  I’ve heard nightmares, even though she is an honors student with a good head on her shoulders.  So I took some counseling from friends and my insurance agent.  Also, the thought of her experiencing her first fender bender on my car (and what that would cost) made me even more anxious.  My insurance agent told me it would probably be better all around if I bought a 10+ old junker for her.  SO, I started looking around.

About that same time I was in casual conversation about this with some folks I work with and it turns out that one of them had bought the proverbial old man’s car so he could tinker with it.  This car was a 1989 2 door coupe (but not a sports car), with a perfect body, new tires, and only 30K miles on it!  The guy had been using it to have engine experience just because he likes to tinker.  So it, in essence, had everything taken care of in the engine (though it didn’t need it)…like spark plugs replaced, etc.

The only problem with the car was the passenger side view mirror (the old guy didn’t back out of his garage too well, and that was the only casualty — he only, of course, drove to church with it).  I was a bit concerned in this day and age that my daughter, who goes to a nice all girls school, would find it a bit beneath her but she loved it.  Even the bordello red interior.  She said it was the perfect first car that you have stories about that you tell when you are older as you are remembering high school!  (Good kid)  It cost me about $2000 — this was all a God-thing, if you ask me with the price and the timing.

When I gave it to her for her birthday, I later had a discussion about her first accident which is bound to happen.  I said, “Hon, when you have that first fender bender, here’s some advice.  Don’t hide it from me, don’t try to minimize it and don’t try to laugh about it when you come to tell me.  Be straight forward.  Let me know you are OK immediately and so is the other person, and be very serious and remorseful.  If you can cry…that will help.”

SO, reel it ahead to this weekend.  She was going to do a college visit with a friend. Left on Friday and came back over the weekend.  Yesterday, she sat in front of me with the cute smile on her face that said, “MOM…I’m cute, right?  So you’ll either give me what I’m asking for OR…you won’t be mad about what I’m about to tell you.”  Of course, my immediate response was, “What do you want??”  She started launching into the tale with a smile and a cute sing-song voice, “Mom…  you know we don’t have to worry about something now…we don’t have to worry about my first ding.”  To which I sat up, and said, “Kiddo, if you are about to tell me what I think you are, it is neither cute nor humorous.  Cut to the chase and tell me exactly what happened.”

 Apparently, she drove to her friend’s house and was going to drive with her to the college visit (this I knew).  Her friend’s dad told her to move her car off the street into the driveway so it wouldn’t get it (foreshadowing?).  She did that.  Their driveway is something like a sideways J.  Her friend then promptly backed out of the garage…and into her.  UGH.  I said, “Everyone ok?”   yes.  “Kiddo, when you spend a few thousand $ on something, learning you have to spend more on it is neither humorous or cute.  Did you find it funny when it happened?” no.  Right.

Got the estimate today…she drove.  I’ve never had an estimate that ended up being anything less than $1000.  She was lucky…it was only about $900.  She gulped when she saw that.  Yep… it’s not cheap.  It’s almost half of what the car cost, but that’s the way it works.  I’d almost consider not getting it fixed, but the body of the car was in perfect shape, so I think it should be fixed.  I’m a little surprised the parents hadn’t called me about it.  I’ve tried to call once to let them know about the estimate to be sure they are going to take care of it.  I’m sure they will.  This seems like a good family.

Just glad it wasn’t my kiddo’s fault.  Makes it easier to take.  Just another bridge crossed…