Accidental Contact

A tale of two perspectives

Good morning!

I’m sure you’ve done this, and had this done to you many times.

A quick pit stop at the post office yesterday to pick up a parcel resulted in some unwanted angst. (Is there something in the planets this week? So many angry people around!)

I went to get back into my car and the drivers door slipped out of my hand and lightly - and I’ll stress lightly - bumped into the car parked next to me.

This is a stock image and not the damage I did on the guy’s car

In case that caption is too small to read - this is a stock image and not the actual damage.

When I say lightly touched - it left the most minor of minor dents. Almost unrecognisable to the human eye unless you were right up close and gesticulating wildly at it.

Which is what Captain Angry did.

He jumped out from the Driver’s side. Furious.

How Dare I not notice I’d done it?! (I had).

How Dare I not offer to pay to have it fixed?! (Hadn’t had the chance to considering he leapt from his vehicle mid-sentence).

Once he drove off, I reflected on the encounter.

From his perspective it was an egregious crime, requiring recompense - either through words or money.

From my perspective it was a minor infraction, requiring attention and a small apology.

Either way it was something that caused a ripple in both our days.

He would drive home and no doubt talk about the careless prick who forcibly thrust the heavy door of my 4WD into his delicate hand painted vehicle.

I would drive home and think about what to write the next morning for my newsletter.

So it was just an exercise in different perspectives.

See you in the morning,

Wade