Yiddish: short for "Oy vey iz mir," Oh, woe is me!
Oy Vey- a phrase expressing dismay or exasperation.
We had a fairly simple day planned… a hand appointment for Russ, a love lunch out at a very nice restaurant and then going to see a house in the all time perfect location. But alas our plans were foiled about 15 minutes into our ride to town. There is a tricky merge intersection on the way to town. Speed limit on dirt road is 30mph and the paved road that we merge onto is probably 40mph. You must look over your shoulder to see if there is any oncoming traffic. I slowed, saw the approaching car, slowed further….BAM…hit from behind.
A somewhat untended young lady emerged from the little Subaru profusely apologizing. She did first
ascertain we were both OK, then said "I will be completely honest with you, I am 17 years old and do not have my license." (Oy Vey) "I heard that if you call this a 'hit and run' your insurance will still cover it. Do you think we could do that; I'll drive off and you can claim it with your insurance company?" Of course I decline her offer and said we'd have to call the police. There, on the side of the road we mustered a caring attitude while for an hour and a half we waited, walked, talked and I generally tried to be calm. I was suppressing some anger (Oy Vey) as I considered the annoying hours of insurance calls that would have to be made. The young lady was of course scared. "Will my mother go to jail? My father is an alcoholic and of absolutely no use? Who will pick my sister up from school, that's my job? My mother won't answer the phone, she's at work. I have no one to call for advice." How can I not feel the pressure of the world on her at such a young age. I felt like she had made some very bad decisions, but she implied her mother knew she was and had been driving illegally. That decision on her mother's part guides her how? But of course this teens theatrical demeanor was what I saw. I did not see how her mom might be hoping for her to display more responsibility. Perhaps she is a person who believes life's problems are always someone else's fault. Perhaps she is a young lady adept at saying what she thinks someone needs/wants to hear. Perhaps my tender heart was being drawn into her version of her teen life. Who knows.
In the process of waiting, she had tears, worry and "Well, let's just enjoy this beautiful day". At one point she said she was going to 'do some sage', and asked if I would like some. I declined and she smudged her car with sage. To send off the evil surrounding the car or to mask a smell I have no clue. (Oy Vey)
At this point we had canceled Russ' hand appointment and canceled lunch. As the young girl did not a have a license Russ offered to drive her to school and suggested that I could follow in her car. Of course the police would not allow her to drive the car unlicensed! She told the policeman of the offer and he took me aside and said she had some "unfinished business" and perhaps we could just leave when the paperwork was completed and they could deal with 'the situation'. (Oy Vey)
Thankfully by the next morning when I again made contact with the young ladies insurance company, they had taken on full responsibility, including a car rental as long as I needed it and cleared for all repairs.
The end of the story?
No one was hurt.
I do not know the young lady's fate, but have been in touch with a friend who visits the women's jail. She will check in with the juvenile jail/detention center and see if she is there and ask permission to talk with her. No idea of her life pattern of decisions to make inappropriate choices, but I just want to know a caring adult has checked in with her!
The house tour was a huge disappointment. Easily $100,000- worth of upgrade needed. No thank you. It was the perfect location and neighborhood though. (Sigh)
So our day began with Oy Vey and ended with a Sigh.