Full Circle

As I flew into Detroit following a rush of morning flights-weather delays-rearranging the afternoon court docket-rushing back to the airport just in time to run through security (yes, I remembered to remove my shoes), catch my plane and be off back toward home, the stormy and turbulent sky opened to a rainbow.

Over Detroit. Val, that one was for you.

It was not a full arc but the two different ends were very sharp and visible. And this sums up my feelings today.

We ended up losing the case, in great part due to the last-minute change (and big change at that) of testimony of one of my witnesses. The plaintiff turned into the defendant and vice-versa, with my lawyer (this point of view I saw coming and did not feel good about whatsoever--but he’s the boss) more trying to prove that the plaintiff in the case caused the accident instead of trying to prove my innocence on negligence.

Follow this?

Okay, basically the focus got completely lost in the shuffle and even the judge, when giving his ruling, said that it was proven that I did NOT, in fact, act in a negligent manner. Witness statements supported that. I thought that was what the lawsuit was all about--at least in my summons, those were the EXACT WORDS used. However, the focus somehow (mainly stemming, yes, from the mass confusion that ensued my #1 witness’ drastic change of testimony two days ago, it was acknowledged) became altered: the ruling was, in the end, that the plaintiff did not cause the accident within reasonable doubt (which I never was purporting from the beginning) and that I was to pay damages (coming from my liability coverage).

Oh, well. Win some, lose some.

Even with this ruling, I feel so much better. My lawyer instructed me, as we left, to look back now when the accident comes to mind and know with peace in my heart and soul that I acted and did exactly as I should; that was, indeed, proven before the judge today.

The accident is now completely behind me. There ought to be no more issues arising from this. I have come full-circle, revisiting the exact location of the accident of exactly two years and one month ago today, and had my decisions supported, to my face, by those who witnessed the entire event. I did not act incorrectly, and that was validated today.

Full circle. I had to revisit the site, revisit the memories, revisit those who stopped to help us and thank them personally…and that has healed me. I never want to speak of this accident again. As the plane took off from Nashville, I could almost literally feel that life chapter’s cover closing.

It is all over! And on my return flight home from Detroit, I was nice to the flight attendants when boarding so one came back and invited me up to first class seating. Free upgrade that included alcohol at no extra cost. I have had worse Fridays.

The two ends of the rainbow--I finished the rainbow today, came full-circle and my pot of gold is the peace I finally feel.