May 15, 2008 Issue

Webster’s New World Dictionary: Yield. a) to let another, esp. a motorist, have the right of way (i.e. “to yield the right of way”). “Bannerman’s” New World Dictionary: b.) Yield, one of the most important words in driving.

Traffic Crash. License and Registration. Citation. Violation. Investigator. Insurance. Estimation. Badge Number. Sheriff. All those words that make your blood pressure rise and as
Glenn Beck remarks on his cable network, makes blood shoot out of his eyes!

“Failure to yield making left turn.” That is what the Law Enforcement Short Form Report reads for the other driver, defined further as Violator in Section 1.

My week ended with an auto accident along the Scenic Highway 30A in Seagrove Beach. From the front seat of my damaged vehicle not so scenic a view. Thanks to good brakes and a firm grip on the steering column, it did not end far worse. No injuries for either of us. Just car damages and stress. Many concerned people turned up at the scene. The Walton County Fire Department team responded quickly, the first on the scene. We were so relieved. Police followed shortly. My day turned around completely with this accident at 4 p.m. Suddenly I am experiencing aches and pains, not to mention fright. My car has aches and pains too. The officer in charge of the report fills in the Estimated Vehicle Damage with $3,300. Ouch!
For the other driver, amount $1,000. Ouch again!

Upon notifying my insurance agency, I am told that I have to contact other driver’s insurance company to get the ball rolling. Well, OK.
Then I must get my damaged vehicle to the auto body shop, some twenty-seven miles to the east. Auto body estimate comes in at $5,300.

It is also my responsibility to take the necessary action to secure a rental car using my credit card to gain a vehicle to drive while awaiting repairs to my car. Not to mention the reimbursement.

Someone else causes an accident causing a hassle for the victim. To get the process rolling, I have to make the calls to insurance adjusters. More filing of claims, figuring out rental car needs, discussing repairs with the auto body crew. They actually feel good about what they can do for my car, yet caution delays on just getting things done because that is just how it is. Some system. So very relieved no one hurt but also feeling sad. Now my car is a statistic. A wreck. Takes some of the pleasure out of driving – even on Scenic 30-A. “Failure to yield while making left turn.” Important words.

On the happier side of my week, we attended the ArtsQuest 20th Anniversary Kickoff Concert featuring The New Gulf Coast Choir. The inspirational voices of some forty young people, ages seven and up, brought joy, laughter, rhythm and meaning to the day. They were rockin’ it out for ArtsQuest, our local fine arts festival!
Hallelujah!

About 100 art lovers turned up on Grayton Beach last Monday night to honor the creative spirit of the founders of ArtsQuest. Now a nationally renowned art festival, ArtsQuest moved to Baytowne Wharf from its original sandy roots at Grayton Beach. At sunset we toasted twenty years of creativity! Here’s to one more for Grayton Beach. Hallelujah!

See you on the Beach!
Claire

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