I'm collecting a box full of my stuff from inside my old buddy. My Ford Ranger has served me well, but it's a sad moment.  I've been evicted from my vehicle, and I'm walking away, box in hand for what might be the last time - depending on a decision from a bean-counter at the insurance company.  Thank  you, other driver - when you nailed us at the intersection of Woodman and Lanark - for ripping us apart. (Please apply any hefty amount of sarcasm of your choosing.)

The impact was startling and horrifying. We were hit hard in the passenger side rear wheel.  Hard enough for both the air bags to blow and the rear axel to become skewed.  Suddenly the cab was a shaken snow globe. Swirling bits of personal items in a cloud.  My glasses (they started out on the top of my head), photo id tags, loose change, Jamba Juice napkins, CD's and the parking stub from our visit to El Capitan State beach - are all air born.

Luckily, miraculously,  I emerge on to the side walk physically unharmed - albeit having a coughing spasm from all the post air bag dust that filled the cab.  An ambulance crew happened to be near by. They checked in on me and waited for police & tow truck to arrive.

Meanwhile my rental car is a Fiat 500, which to say is a different driving experience is an understatement.  I've never driven a sports car.  Although it's nice to think that it would be great to have one as your daily drive, I'm not so sure.  At least not this one.  No thanks, J Lo.

Anyway, I'm not sure what to make of my air bag experience.  Gone is any fear that an unused air bag might not work properly after 11 years, that's for sure.  And I can testify that they'd work to save you from serious head injury.  But to have both bags blow in a collision that was no where near the front side of the car leads me to believe my buddy was a bit premature.  Ah well, better safe than sorry?  Sure, why not.