Well, let me just start off by saying that I still have _both_.

Though for the space of a heartbeat yesterday I wasn’t so sure that would be the case.

Abby and I both took the day off yesterday to spend with my parents in their much-awaited presence here in the US of A. We started out the day by getting their car on the road - registered, insured, inspected (which it failed!), and thankfully we had that done by around 10h45.

After stopping at home for a while we headed out again. First stop - Naval Station Newport. I wanted to drive my parents (and sister) through to show them where I worked. Mission accomplished. From there we drove over the Newport bridge, Jamestown bridge, and up to West Kingston, RI, for a stop at Peter Pots Pottery. Again, mission accomplished.

Now for the rest of the trip home. We headed up Rt. 4, got onto 95, and finally merged onto 195. It was shortly after getting on 195 when the life / car uncertainties began. I was in the middle lane, driving maybe just a bit too close to the van in front of me - when that van decided to come to a stop. A complete stop. For absolutely _no_ apparent reason. I slammed on the brakes as hard as I could. I mean, I didn’t just press lightly - I went all out.

My anti-locking brake system kicked in full gear, and my car shuddered to a stop about 1 foot from the van in front of me. The first thing I did was check my mirror to see if I was about to be rear-ended, but fortunately that was not the case. I quickly turned my car back on (which I had stalled in the process of stopping), and headed the rest of the way home.

Alas, my car was unscathed, as were the lives of my parents, my sister, and myself.

Another day, another flash of life.