Sorry About That Jim

“Sorry about that Jim.” Those were the words of my husband’s friend after he
backed into my husband’s Jeep with his Range Rover.
Here is how the morning transpired. We were visiting friends in the Hamptons.
We stayed with them at their home. We were headed to the Farmer’s Market, and
our friend Matthew was backing his Ranger Rover out of the garage. We were all
talking and the car indicator beep, the one that sounds loudly when you are in
close range of another object or person, was in fact sounding loudly. It was
however to no avail. There was a loud Boom! and we all fell silent. Matthew
exited the car, as did my husband, to observe a large dent in the rear passenger
side door of my husband’s Jeep. Matthew’s response “Sorry about that Jim.” Not,
“oh my goodness, I am so sorry, I will take care of that;” not “Jim, I wasn’t paying
attention, my mistake”, not even “you know I don’t want to go through my
insurance company let me just take care of that”. No, it was “Sorry about that
Jim,” and he got back in the car and off to the Farmer’s Market we went. Matthew
never offered to pay for the damage. It was 100% Matthew’s fault. He backed his
Range Rover into my husband’s parked car. Matthew later offered my husband a
finishing polish for the car. He said to rub this polish into the car, and you will
never know the difference.
Well Matthew how about this – we do not want to rub a finishing polish into a
large dent, we want the dent removed as would any human being, I suspect,
whose car has been hit.
The total to fix the car was over $2k.
Can you imagine backing into someone’s car and instead of accepting
responsibility you suggest a car polish to repair the large dent. I am aghast at the
audacity of an individual who would do what Matthew did.
Matthew is a retired partner from a large law firm. Not that I am poo pooing
lawyers, after all I am one. I simply wonder if his years of calling all the shots and
being the guy making all the decisions impacted his decision-making ability and
his accepting responsibility-making ability in his broader personal life.

We still visit these friends out in the Hamptons. You might ask why? Why do we
associate ourselves with them? It is a fair question. If I am being completely
honest, I would say we enjoy the luxury of a secluded beach with hardly anyone
on it. It is nice to go, sit on the beach, read a book and/or sleep in the sun where
you have the beach all to yourself.
We have never talked about the car accident with our friends since that day and
in fact my husband no longer has that car.
Now each time we visit these friends we cross our fingers that Matthew is paying
attention, and that lightning will not strike twice.
Sweet Dreams,
Ava

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