Monday, April 14, 2008

Of sawdust and lawyers and the writing of words

There's very little evidence left of Saturday night's downed tree, other than a sheen of sawdust across the street. MoCo emergency workers were out there with chainsaws until at least 5 a.m. Sunday. I finally dozed off at 5, so I don't really know when they departed the scene. All I know is, when I woke up around 10, the tree was gone. The car belonging to my nice British neighbor got walloped by the end of the branches, leaving the car with big dings and an all-over coat of deep scratches.

I saw the missus talking to insurance adjusters at her door this morning, and I offered up photos of the car under the branches, if that would be helpful. Both of the adjusters stared at me like I'd grown a third eye. The missus hadn't been there when the tree fell, but husband was up, watching English football. Over the stadium crowd noise on his TV, he hadn't heard the crash. I knocked on his door to bring the bad news.

"Umm, hi... I know it's late, but I thought you should know... there's a tree on your car." This guy is so incredibly polite, so amazingly gentle, so utterly British - his response was to say, "Oh, my. I guess I should go out and see this." I, of course, would have been swearing like a sailor, bolting for the door. I admire his low-key nature. Perhaps it could be bottled and sold as a calming agent for DC commuters.

Speaking of which... I have to take the car to the quick claims place tomorrow morning. I will attempt to be mellow and Zen. I will probably fail. I'm not at my best at 7:30 in the morning, frankly. Then again, who is?

Do any of the DC area folks have a recommendation for an attorney who handles auto accident cases on a contingency basis? Yes, I know the people who advertise on local TV - but if any of you have had a good experience with anyone in particular, I'd be grateful for the advice. The lawyer my doc suggested doesn't work on contingency, and I can't afford to pay up front.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Despite having taken my nighttime, sleep-inducing pain killers, I'm inspired to write, and I'm halfway through a radio commentary about concert-going etiquette. Not sure it will fly with WAMU, but it's worth trying! Hopefully, you'll hear me on your radio again soon!

Before I go -- I have to share this one fine thing with you. My friend Madame Ambassador e-mailed me today with an image that has warmed my heart. Enjoy:


Wherever you are tonight, my friends, I wish you peas. Lots and lots of peas.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Tunisia! Advocate of peas through sport.

No recommendation for lawyers, sorry. I think I'd avoid those ambulance chasing types with the tacky ads, too. I wonder if your doctor could call the lawyer he recommended and convince him to do a little pro bono/contingency work?

Sudiegirl said...

I like peas. And yeah, what j.m. said.

Cyn said...

Great sign! (Although after having *tried* to speak Spanish in Mexico a couple weeks ago...well...who knows what I actually said?)

Peas be with you.