Well Campers, I had a bit of good news Wednesday morning. As many of you are aware, Mrs J and I were involved in a truck accident on Halloween last year. Single vehicle, but we were in it. We'd driven from Fredericksburg to College Station to take our grand kids trick or treating. We were very close to exiting the highway when I blacked out with Atrial Fluctuation. (Yes Beans, I had been saying Atrial Fibrilation, but my Cardiologist corrected me.)
Anyhow, I blacked out, went off the highway, across the access road and into a gulley. Unfortunately the cruise control stayed on and we hit a granite rock at 75 MPH. Totaled the truck but Mrs J was fine with just a bruise from the seat belt. I was a bit worse off having hit the steering column, seat belt was on, but the steering column was closer. Anyhow, fractured my sternum and 3 vertebrae in my neck. That having been said, it would have been very easy for it to have been MUCH worse.
Into the hospital for a week, a neck brace for 3 months and a suspension of my drivers license as I had blacked out.
Well...now almost exactly 9 months after the accident, I visited the Judge who had the power to restore my driving privilege. He listened to me as well as the person from the DMV. She told him that I should be permanently restricted from driving. C’mon! It had already been 9 months without a cranial shutdown. Suffice it to say not driving was a huge PITA! Mrs J has a Travel Agent job, I had a lot of Doctor Appointments, she couldn't do both at the same time and I couldn't drive myself. As I said PITA!
The Judge was a former USAF judge, he and I got along pretty well. He suggested I take an additional 3 months off of driving and come back then. Well, the 3 months expired yesterday. I walked into the courtroom with a folder full of medical reports ,various Doctors reports on my return to health, and DMV reports of what was needed to regain driving privilege. It was at least a half inch thick.
He swore me in. Asked what the Doctor had said. I told him and he said "Well Good! We'll file the paperwork giving you driving permission. When you receive that, you're good to go. "
So...I hope the DMV gets their act in gear soon. Their rep didn't look to happy about the decision. But....
Anyhow, I should be back on the road soon. Thank you Lord!
Sorry no pictures, not allowed in the courtroom.
Congratulations, sir! Safe travels and good health to ya.
ReplyDeletecuthach
Cuthatch,
DeleteThanks, much appreciated.
juvat
When I had had a cardiac arrest caused by atrial fibrillation my cardiologist told me to stop driving.
ReplyDelete"We can't have you mowing down bus queues, can we?"
Dearieme,
DeleteWell...That's certainly true! :-). Hope all is well with you.
juvat
Good news indeed juvat! DMV folks seem to have a well deserved rep don't they?
ReplyDeleteNylon,
DeleteYeah, that's true. It's like some fighter pilots I've seen, sulk when they're on gun camera film. She was supposed to do her duty and present options. Not punish people. That's the Judge's job.
juvat
(cue "The Quiet Man" scene of Fr. Lonergan warning about Mrs. Playfair approaching on her bicycle)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! It's quite a mental burden to have to rely on others for transportation. Almost seems unamerican.
Joe,
DeleteYes it was and Mrs J was a trooper. But I could tell it was weighing on her.
juvat
Mose excellent news juvat!
ReplyDeleteThanks "Worked too long". I agree!
Deletejuvat
That is great news Juvat! Going in prepared to anything always helps.
ReplyDelete(Sigh. The bad side of bureaucracies: They move from "enforcing the existing laws" to "making the existing laws or believing their opinion is the law." I will try to assume good intent on the part of the DMV, but still....)
THBB,
DeleteIn the first court visit, she was pretty uppity. The Judge, I could tell, was getting irritated with her. After I left, he might have spoken to her. This visit, she wasn't quite as snippy as she had been and didn't say much throughout the court visit. So...Win/Win!
juvat
This is good news! (What is it with some DMV employees?)
ReplyDeleteSarge,
DeleteDon't know, power seeking almost certainly. And/Or some of the DMV ticket holders probably deserve a bit of disciplining. Who knows. I just know it went better.
juvat
Great news! You've made it past the almighty bureaucrat!
ReplyDeleteRob,
DeleteWell....Not ALL mighty. Thankfully!
juvat
As a lifelong unrepentant scofflaw I do admire folks like you that do things the right way.
ReplyDeleteWSF,
DeleteWell the Judge had the two options for the decision in his hand. I figured courteous and prepared with documents was my best strategy. Guess it worked.
juvat
The reputation of DMV bureaucrats seems well justified. Well done to you, the docs and the judge to allow reason, logic and the law to prevail over the bureaucracy.
ReplyDelete[Cue Willie Nelson' "On the road again"...]
JB
JB,
DeleteAgreed,
Might have that tune in my head for a while. Thanks
juvat
No photos I understand, but what about the courtroom artist depiction? Congrats. Seems like that DMV bureaucrat is not helping improve the impression about DMV bureaucrats. - Tuna
ReplyDeleteWell, neither I nor Mrs J are artistically gifted and the only people in the courtroom were Mrs J and I, the Judge, the DMV rep and a HUGE Deputy with a large pistol. Two of the 3 non-family members were polite and helpful. One however….
Deletejuvat
Congratulations! Freedom!
ReplyDeleteMary,
DeleteYEP!!!!
juvat
Good news.
ReplyDelete