Stupidity Has a Price

[billroper]

Fortunately, in the current case, the price of stupidity will be $170 installed to replace the broken left-side mirror on the big red minivan. Since the price of this particular stupidity could have been as high as "dead", $170 seems really, really cheap.

For those of you who didn't hear the story, the short form is that I found myself in a very bad place in a construction zone on the way to FilKONtario and the best alternative was to knock over several construction barrels. God was apparently looking out for fools and small children, because the only thing that was damaged was the mirror.

And my voice for the weekend, from shouting and screaming afterwards, but that was just a different kind of stupidity.

Comments

[pwl1.livejournal.com]

OUCH!

[billroper]

Well, yeah, but it could have been a lot worse, so I think I'll take the mirror. Although it really ticked me off at the time.

[artbeco.livejournal.com]

So glad you're all okay!!

[billroper]

Thanks! It was one of those things where I didn't really have a chance to think about how much trouble I could get in until it was over. I was too busy steering and braking.

And then once I had a chance to think about it, I got really annoyed at myself for having gotten us in that position. $170 is cheap for the lesson learned.

[bardling.livejournal.com]

Amen.
Also: *hugs* & very glad the lesson wasn't any dearer...

[ccrazy.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear everyone is okay.

[billroper]

Thanks!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Thank God you're all okay. Hugs.

[billroper]

Thanks! And yes, being all ok is the best part of this.

[madfilkentist]

I'm glad nothing seriously bad happened.

[billroper]

Oh, yeah! It's retrospectively funny how mad I was at myself when I realized that I had broken the mirror.

Perspective. I am learning perspective in my old age. :)

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

I hear you brother.

$170 for a lesson in stupidity is "priceless", when the fee is often, as you say, so much higher.

I've had a couple of those in my life as well ... and the shock and adrenalin and everything really does hit ... and you look back and go "how the heck did I survive that?" and "whoa ...."

hug and more hugs

[billroper]

Yep. That was a very cheap lesson that I intend to remember for a long time.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you are okay. I'm sorry about the mirror but compared to what might have happened it does seem kind of minor.

[billroper]

Thanks! Yeah, once I realized exactly how stupid a position I'd gotten us into (and out of), the mirror became pretty much a minor annoyance. Once I calmed down, I was more worried about jerry rigging something that would serve as a mirror for when I went through Customs, in terms of short-term effects. Having to turn around and go home would have been really irritating.

[kizoku42.livejournal.com]

So was that a -Michigan- construction barrel? Since apparently you hadn't made it to Canada yet? Glad you weren't hurt, too. ^_^

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Yipe! I'm glad you got off lightly.

[billroper]

Oh, so are we. Thanks!

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

I did not hear the story, but I am glad that the damage was minor.

I think pretty much everyone does something stupid every now and then and realizes that it could have been much worse. I know I have had a couple of those moments. Hopefully they help us to be more attentive going forward, because one can only make so many saving throws.

[billroper]

Thanks!

And I will be happy to avoid rolling that particular set of dice in the future.

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

Yipes. This is the first I heard of it. Very very very glad the price was not higher.

[billroper]

Thanks! I wasn't talking about it a lot at the con, although I told a few of my friends.

mirror, mirror, on the van...

[jdonat.livejournal.com]

oh, my. I'm happy it was just the mirror. Every once in a while, you are allowed to do something 'stupid' and get away with it. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly how many times you are allowed to do stupid. I'm happy everyone is ok.
I had a mirror busted for me by a rampaging SUV going by us. Was able to replace it meself, but finding exactly where the cable went was the adventure. Got it put back together, and such.... but oof. Don't scare us like this, ok?

[janeg.livejournal.com]

So travelling to the moon in the red mini-van will be much safer than travelling in Michigan.

I didn't hear about this at FKO. So glad it wasn't more serious.

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

eep! Sounds scary! So glad you all are okay!

[andpuff.livejournal.com]

VERY glad to hear it wasn't worse and that only the mirror suffered!