On A Sunday

The plan:

Wake up - slept in Lauren's couch; but then I have been doing a lot of couch sleeping lately. Even at home - I usually just collapse in my couch when I get home at night or fall asleep reading.
Have coffee and breakfast - part of my morning routine, except Lauren or John usually made the coffee in their house. I do not have to grind coffee beans before brewing like I do at home. I love the smell of newly ground coffee beans. Makes me think fo Kiburiao.
Finish laundry - started a couple of loads Saturday night.
Shower and get ready for church - the usual Sunday stuff.
Go to mass - it is God's commandment. I love God and I love Jesus - I try to live my life according to what we are asked to do in His gospels.
Visit Mother Rankine - I try to do this whenever I am in Garden City. She is going to be 90 years old this year.
Meet Donna hopefully, to watch Gabriel and Alexander play soccer.
Go home to Northville
Call Tatay and Nanay in San Francisco - I try to do this every weekend.
Meet Carla to show her the apartment
Attend Peace March - I am committed to a peaceful and just world.
Check messages at my office
Attend premier of "Till August"- this is a production done by our film students and they are so excited about showing this movie!!! I am very proud of them.
Call Elvesa at Vancouver - I try to talk to her every weekend. She was in Portland, Oregon last weekend, so we did not talk.

"What actually happened"

Woke up to the noise of the robins in Lauren's yard. The sun was barely up. Told Lauren that her robins are rude and uncivilized. It is spring and all of creation is waking up! Wished they were a bit quieter.

Coffee was ready; I steamed "budbod bulanghoy" for breakfast - not as good as what Lola Sayong use to make; a bit dry actually, the coffee was needed to wet it down.

Macy (Dominic's dog) signaled that she wanted me to take her outside. - I crawled back in the couch and asked Dominic to come and cuddle - he is actually getting too big - I tickled his chest and "kili-kili" so he left.

Finished drying and folding laundry. - Lauren was getting ready for work. I walked around the yard with John to look at the plants coming up for spring. They have a gorgeous clump of daffodils by the fence in the backyard and a burst of bright yellow forsythia. The lilac bush by the gate is lost. I will miss the scent.

I took a shower and got ready as soon as Lauren was dressed. I left for church. After mass, I stopped and visited Mother Rankine.

Spoke to Tatay and Nanay - they called. I was pressed for time, so did not talk too long.

Made a tuna fish concoction with spicy nachos and a can of coke for lunch. John asked if I was staying for dinner;I said that I did not plan on it but I will consider it, if he made spaghetti. John's spaghetti is one of the best. John discovered that there was no ground beef so I went to the store to get some.

I went to the nearest grocery store to pick up meat. I looked for a parking space closest to the door - it was an in and out operation then...... as I was pulling into the parking space "Baaam crunch!!!"...... A big truck backed into my car.

Shock, shaken and speechless!!! I did not have my bag, just my wallet with me. I did not have my cell phone. The store was less than a mile away. All I could do was exchange information with the other driver. I shook all the way into the store; picked up meat and went through U-scan with the ground sirloin. Forgot to bag the meat and carried the package out to the car. Blood seeped out of the meat package into my hand - it was sticky! Felt a lot of fear when getting back into the car - I did not want to drive back to Lauren's - I did not want to drive anywhere.

Got home and showed the damage to John. Neither the door nor the window on the front passenger side would open. I was still shaking, my head started to hurt and my stomach was very sour. I have a tendency to "somatize" rather than emote and feel. What I really wanted to do was cry and scream. Just couldn't.

Made the phone calls - first to Carla to postpone our appointment. I am thinking about moving - downsizing, cheaper housing so I can have money for more traveling. Called Donna but she did not answer. Then called Nicki to tell her about the mishap. Donna later called me as they traveled from the field where Alexander have just finished playing his game; driving to the field where Gabriel was going to play. Called Colleen and left a message that I would be unable to attend the "Peace March." Felt bad about it - I firmly believe that the Iraq War has to end. Policies must be changed! Solutions must be found!

I have decided to stay at Lauren's. Donna and Frank just stopped by to see how I am doing - I have calmed down. I am no longer shaking, I am still worried about driving to work tomorrow. I would just as soon stay home.

Hope that I get over this when I wake up tomorrow. I will need to decide whether to report the mishap to my insurance company. Michigan is a no-fault state - insurance claims make insurance premiums go up. I will have to find a collision shop to fix my car.

A lot to think about and to decide - such extra complications just from what happened on one Sunday in spring.