Big Bang...

Day at work started out pretty normal. Decided around 9:30 to go to the bank and then to Lowes, Wal-Mart, etc. to get some items that I need for projects around the facility. Was driving up Route 1 towards Staples, with Boomer in the back seat, and all of a sudden I hear a big bang. I sensed that I had been hit by something but it didn't feel like someone had rammed into the truck. In that split second, my mind raced through a dozen different thoughts...Did i drift out of my lane into another car ? Did I blow a tire ? Oh God, I hate to even look at the truck if there is damage to it.....I look over and see that the passenger side mirror is against the passenger window. I was driving in the middle lane and I look over to see another large cargo truck in the outer lane next to me. He appears to have been the one involved in whatever caused that big bang so I keep an eye on him. He pulls off on the berm and I find a side street where I can pull off.

He gets out of his truck and walks over towards me. I am really ticked at this point. I ask him "What were you doing ? Why did you hit me ?" He says that he drifted into my lane as he was trying to make a wide turn into a side road. Luckily the side mirrors extend beyond the width of the truck so when he got too close the mirror was the only thing to take the "hit" and it swung over next to the cab (the mirrors have multiple positions that they can lock into and are not fixed in one spot). I took down his information and continued on my way to finish my errands. I swear the drivers here are crazy....I had another harrowing experience as I was headed to the bank. At that point I was about ready to go home, climb into bed and pull the covers over my head. Sheesh ! We constantly hear the screeching of brakes as cars try to come to a stop at the red light out in front of the store or the shrill whine of motorcycles as they fly down the highway. Seemed to be a particularly hazardous place to drive. Glad we don't have a commute to get here and we only have to walk to work....it's just when we have to go out to do anything that it makes me nervous. The mirror just suffered a little gash on it....nothing serious. Thank goodness for that...don't think we could stand losing any more of our stuff here in New Jersey. Losing our bike was enough.