sciatrix: A thumbnail from an Escher print, black and white, of a dragon with its tail in its mouth, wing outstretched behind. (Default)
sciatrix ([personal profile] sciatrix) wrote2019-01-07 12:35 pm

okay, okay

I'm on my way back from SICB now and energized by both some really impressive science and also the release of a real scary catastrophe that feels... very, very narrowly averted.

So remember when I mentioned grousing because we had to buy a car last month when our old one got totalled? Yeah, this one got into an accident when a dude stepped out and decided dive stationarily along the two leftmost lanes of traffic on the highway frontage. I found that out when T called me literally as I landed on the end of my first flight to Tampa and tearfully told me what had happened, and have been panicking ever since.

That was the first time either of us has bought a used car, and we didn't realize we needed to notify our insurance with our VIN number rather than waiting on the plates. And of course we were hit on day 31 of buying the damn thing, so USAA could reasonably have denied us any coverage at all for the accident. Which was... heart-stopping to be fearing all weekend.

They chose to allow us to backdate our coverage to the day after we purchased the car instead, so we will be covered for it. I can't really put how terrified I've been and how relieved I feel now into words. It's really humbling. The run of shitty luck is (depressingly) par for the course for us; over the course of my PhD I have used renters' insurance, car insurance for car, car insurance for injury, health insurance, homeowner's insurance, flood insurance, and pet insurance for assorted $1000+ claims, which is about... half my salary for any given month. But the extension of grace is not so par for the course, either for me generally (although USAA is predictably wonderful, they are not available for everyone) or for people at large.

I'm humbled today. That's all.

Meme blogging will begin tomorrow and run an extra week or so to make up for the conference-induced absence, I think.
brainwane: spinner rack of books, small table, and cushy brown chair beside a window in my living room (chair)

[personal profile] brainwane 2019-01-07 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I am SO RELIEVED for you! Here is hoping this starts a run of better luck for you!
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[personal profile] breathedout 2019-01-07 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my god. How terrifying. I have been in, not that situation but one where I similarly had to wait on a call by an insurance company, and it's suuuper scary and helpless-feeling. So glad they allowed you to work out a good solution!
ursula: bear eating salmon (Default)

[personal profile] ursula 2019-01-07 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a huge relief!
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[personal profile] implicated2 2019-01-08 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Yikes. Sorry to hear about the scare, and the accident. Glad to hear catastrophe was averted, however narrowly. :/
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[personal profile] sylvaine 2019-01-08 07:58 am (UTC)(link)
Augh /o\ I'm glad the insurance chose to cover it <3
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[personal profile] swingandswirl 2019-01-08 10:11 am (UTC)(link)
So very glad things turned out okay, and fingers crossed your luck is better in the future!
sebenikela: (Default)

[personal profile] sebenikela 2019-01-08 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
oh shit that's scary as hell. I hope the relief-wave doesn't knock you down too hard <3
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[personal profile] sebenikela 2019-01-09 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
it's SUCH a thing! I am pretty good at keeping my shit together in emergencies, but then I FALL OVER afterwards and want to sleep for a week. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug...

good luck with all of the ugh stuff

[personal profile] grayduck 2019-01-09 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh I am SO glad to hear that your insurance cooperated!