On IHOP and Car Accidents

So I got a sad call from a friend last night. This one's here in Misery... just about my only close friend here, in fact. She lives about 45 minutes away, and we really only see each other once a month or so. We've been pretty close almost since I moved to Misery, though. Back when she was a young new divorcee with a baby.

Meeting IHOP Buddy

We somehow managed to meet during the extremely small time bracket in which my job took me to Jeff City a couple times a week to research records at St. Mary's Hospital, at the same time that she was doing temp work there. Now whereas I tend to keep to myself in unfamiliar places around new people, she's extremely gregarious. One of those types that will strike up friendly conversations with people at line in the grocery store. Or Wal Mart. Or the amusement park. Or stopped in traffic. *grin* She happened to notice my ankle tat, and a remarkable friendship was born.

IHOP Family

She's married now, with two kids... the baby boy when I met her is now 10, and her little girl is 6. Both are finally old enough that she feels comfortable leaving them (with somebody else) long enough to come visit me for the day. For years, I did most of the traveling. Which wasn't a problem, really... only a migraine almost always manages to pounce whenever I go to her place. Not sure exactly why. I think it may be a combination of exposure to cigarette smoke (though she DOES try not to do smoke much around me), the dust from the gravel road she lives on, and the regulary noisy busyness of her household. I just stoke up on a lot of meds when I visit her, so it's all good. But I also appreciate that she can visit me more often now.

Coincidentally, an IHOP just set up shop here in Columbia just this year, so now we've sort of started a tradition of stuffing ourselves silly on pancakes, waffles and/or french toast every time she visits. Upon explaining this tradition to someone else during a conversation, my friend was forever dubbed my IHOP Buddy. *grin*

Bad News

Amway, my IHOP Buddy called last night with news that her hubby's been in an accident. Considering he's a Semi-Driver by trade, I was rather alarmed. Then she explained that he'd been a passenger in a friend's car when it went around a sharp curve, hit a large boulder and went flipping. Which isn't a whole lot better, but I've seen some pretty spectacular Semi-crashes on the highway. Evidently his arm is shattered. He's high on morphine now, so at least he's not feelin much... and I think he's going into surgery this morning.

Unfortunately, he just recently lost his health insurance, and the guy driving the car had no car insurance. He won't be able to work for at least a little while, and she's been in the process of hunting for a job. It's just a really bad situation overall. I think she was in shock yesterday when I talked to her. She knows the financial implications, but I think she's mostly just focusing on her husband getting well. I know they have very supportive families, though... and I'm sure they can pull through. We got cut off before I could offer any help... though I'm not sure what I can do. Aside from monetary assistance, and I'm not sure their pride will allow that. I'm gonna try to call again today to see how's doing and if there's anything I can do to help.

No Strangers to Accidents

She and I have been through a car accident of our own... several years ago, in St. Louis. The story's a rather funny one in retrospect, and one I'll have to tell at another time. Funny just doesn't seem appropriate at the moment.

I'll definately post an update when I know more.