Rara Rizal

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Rara Rizal
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Run For Your Li(v)es!

Education > Special Education > Crazy Drivers Are Driving Me Crazy.
 

Crazy Drivers Are Driving Me Crazy.

Do you use your cellphone while driving? If you do then you are one of these crazy drivers. If you are then I'm sorry, you're an idiot. I hate idiots. How can you not hate idiots?

So if you use your cellphone while driving, I don't hate you for nothing. In fact I have a pretty damn good reason.

Last night I came home from a German night-class. It was 8 and I took angkot (a kind of public transport in Indonesia). Anyways, the angkot stopped at some kind of station near my house, and in order to get to my house, I had to cross this road.

I was trying to get to the other side of the road when all of a sudden a Land Cruiser came out of nowhere and hit me. BAM. BOOM. WHATEVER. I was sure, positively sure, that the car was at least a hundred meters away when I was right about to cross (otherwise I should've waited. I'm a good pedestrian. And I do not intend to end my life anytime soon).

But I was fine. A little injured, my legs hurt like !#$^$@#%&*$%666$#, but other than that I don't see external bleeding. My guts are still inside (hah). And I was able to stand back up on my two hurt-like-hell feet. The driver (an old lady-foreigner) stepped down and asked me if I was all right.

And I said, "All right?! You hit me with your damn cruiser, Ma'am, and you have the audacity to stand there and ask me if i'm ALL RIGHT?! Heck, I am not!" And by this time people have gathered around to watch this little scene. The mid-aged lady looked frightened (Which is exactly what you should look like when you're American and you just hit an Indonesian in Indonesia. And when you're surrounded by quite many angry-looking Indonesians. And worse, this little Indonesian kid you just hit speaks English. Gah).

She explained, nervously, that she was calling her daughter and she didn't see me and must've been distracted and accidentally accelerating and blabbity blabbity blah.

In other words, she was USING HER CELLPHONE WHILE DRIVING. I didn't remember much what happened after that, because of the pain, of course, but I eventually forgave her and she left me her number ("just in case you need anything from me"-yeah, I need you to put you're brain back on). You know, if people can get hit by a car and get paid for that, who knows maybe I'd do it for a living. Or dying, in that case.

Today the pain got worse. And my legs were swollen. So I went to the hospital and thankfully it's better now. They wouldn't take my insurance card because I came and listed as "non-emergency patient" sooo I had to pay. How does one little kid pay one million Rupiah (about a hundred dollars)? I took my monthly allowance from my dad, of course, meaning no Manhattan Transfer concert for me, and bye-bye tennis shoes.

You might ask, where's my parents? Oh well, the thing is, I live alone. And before, I lived with my Grandparents in another island. They are retired, over-worrying old folks and I just didn't want to make them worried. Unless they really have to. So I'm waiting for these legs to get better and then I'll tell them. And I'm just too afraid to tell my parents right now since maybe they're too busy saving the world and all that.

And about that number that lady gave me? Nope. I come from Makassar. And people from Makassar have got dignity as big as the Caspian Sea. Sometimes they do stupid things to protect them, and as stupid as it sounds, I am too proud of myself to call and beg this lady to pay me.

What I will do now is to call her and tell her to read this if she has time. You know, maybe this'll help her realize what she had done has made a real big impact on me. I don't get to see my favorite vocal group who came all the way from US, I don't get to have a new pair of tennis shoes for training, and most probably coach Stevens won't pick me for a competition in April anyway, since I can't train. Not with swollen legs, I can't.

And the next time my mother calls me (which is probably when I win Wimbledon or a Nobel Prize in Medicine), the first thing I'll ask her is "Mom, are you driving?"

Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants, however, found a way of telling me it could've been worse:
"Maybe a story will cheer you up. It's called 'The Ugly Barnacle.' Once there was an ugly barnacle. He was so ugly that everyone died. The end."

PS. I posted this under "Special Education" so these ignorant slobs who came across this may have something to learn.

posted on Feb 10, 2008 2:34 AM ()

Comments:

Wow, sorry I was away and did not know about all this. Hope you are doing OK by now. You might know it was an American -over here it is mostly Me First ! Forget about others!. When I lived in Indonesia a few years ago people would usually just cross the busy road, waving their hands in a downward motion, and people would slow down to let them cross. I saw this many times. At least then it was more like "gotong royong" than "me first". I liked that. Well take care - watch out for Americans!
comment by baseeker on Feb 19, 2008 5:25 PM ()
Wow, what a tale! Driving while talking is almost as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcoholic beverage. The negligence is so obvious that, esp. if you have any lingering problems from your injury, you really ought to consult a lawyer over it. BTW, I think your "About Me" intro is great! And I have always enjoyed Manhattan Transfer; I've got a couple of their albums. Take care.
comment by looserobes on Feb 18, 2008 1:45 PM ()
I'm an idiot--please don't hate me! However, I have never been involved in an accident and the use of the phone is minimal and I generally pull over some place safe and call back.
comment by angiedw on Feb 18, 2008 2:25 AM ()
OMG! I am so sorry that happened to you, Some states have laws that you cant use a phone while driving, guess she thought she was safe to do it over there. I bet you did scare her when you started speaking english...HAHAHA. I hope you get better soon. Try to keep them legs up, that will reduce some of the swelling...
comment by ekyprogressive on Feb 13, 2008 6:50 AM ()
I think you are quite justified to have your strong opinion! Geez!
I hope you start feeling 100% better soon...
comment by kristilyn3 on Feb 11, 2008 8:23 AM ()
Hi, Rara! I am so sorry that you got into that mess caused by a woman on a cell phone. In California, it's against the law. I hope you are doing okay. Take care.
comment by sunlight on Feb 10, 2008 7:45 PM ()
I'm just popping bye to see how you are. How are you doing? Take care care, and stay off your legs.
comment by lynnie on Feb 10, 2008 3:27 PM ()
HOpe you get better very soon. You are so right about using the cellphone while driving. I try not to. I can't multi-task so my conversations are very short and to the point. "Pick up the milk while you're out, by." Also, I have a voice recognition on my cellphone. That's a much better thing. Sorry that happened to you. Hang in there.
comment by teacherwoman on Feb 10, 2008 11:46 AM ()
Hope all heals very quickly!
comment by whereabouts on Feb 10, 2008 10:32 AM ()
((hug)) glad you're overall okay. hope the pain goes away soon for you. take care!
comment by dkelly on Feb 10, 2008 7:43 AM ()
That's one of my peeves -- distracted drivers. I've been hit a couple times while running and both times because the driver was dialing. I don't think you should let pride stand in the way of expecting this woman to make things right. Her callous negligence set you back and you shouldn't have to subsidize her stupidity. How soon is the concert? Hope you feel better soon.
comment by vladimir on Feb 10, 2008 7:07 AM ()
you poor kid. dang, getting hit by a land cruiser. the cops should have arrested the old bat right on the spot. you just rest and recuperate, dear. we'll all be thinking about you.

reguards
yer let's through the book at the old bat pal
bugg
comment by honeybugg on Feb 10, 2008 6:46 AM ()
I'm not using phone while driving for some reason = summons. I know some og german language, ichi lebeh dich lol. BTW hope you will get better soon
comment by mustakim on Feb 10, 2008 5:52 AM ()
are you sure your ok? What did the hospital say? Are the police involved in this, that woman should be penalized Im so sorry, you take care sweetie. Do you have friends nearby who can look in on you from time to time? I'll be checking in on you Take is easy hun (((((((hugs))))))))
comment by lynnie on Feb 10, 2008 3:08 AM ()

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