Please laugh about this. I'm not yet, but eventually it will be as
funny as me hugging the car 2 yeas ago.

Driving a stick shift, dropped some kids off who had been visiting our
campus, come back, park, put the emergency break on. My passenger
remembers that. Then, she got out, I took my foot off the brake and
clutch, and used both hands to write down the mileage of the trp we
had taken. I get out of the car, turn around to get my purse and
realize the car is rolling. The door is still open and between the
door and me there is a pole, then after me there is another pole. The
car was on flat pavement, but to get up to that pavement there is a 5"
incline. So, it slowly started rolling backwards then sped up. From
the first pole between the door and me, the door was plastered against
the front of the car, then the too-far-open-door hit me into the
second pole. To not be stuck there with the car rolling, I rolled
around the pole with the movement of the car. I honestly thought that
was the end of me. My spine was pushed toward my ribs, which caved in
and I lost my breath. As happened 2 years ago, the car was still
moving, so I ran after it to get the emergency break up so that it
wouldn't back into the building it was headed towards. This was made
easy by the door being plastered against the front of the car, but
difficult because when a body is in shock, the strength goes out of
the arms and because when the car is rolling, a hand break isn't the
easiest to pull up. About 3' from the building I finally succeeded in
stopping the car.

So, yes, once again I was crushed by a car, though this time a 4x4
land cruiser! Peope on campus heard the crunch of the door and my
scream, but thought it was the beginning of civil war. Angelika (my
director's wife), who is sick, ran out of her house to see what was going on. The girl
who was in the car with me heard me scream so turnd to watch it
happen. She was so in shock that she culdn't talk either, but we
eventually told the story, recomposed ourselves, and went into the
house. I laid down while Angelika called the French nuse who lives on
campus. We identified the trouble spots then Rod (who is getting over
malaria) took me to the local hospital. I got 3 xrays done (I'll try
to scan and send them) which proved that nothing is broken, but things
are shaken. They perscribed advil extra strength and bengay for me,
but last night I didn't slep from crushing nightmares and pain, so
when I went back this morning for the follow up, he put me on some
heavier stuff.

I'm getting more and better care here than I would anywhere except in
your home, so don't worry about me. He's the best dr. in Bouake, and
he is pretty good. I was embarrassed because our white skin allowed us
to skip the line (I was in and out of the 'ER' in 1 hour, xrays
included!), but I was glad because pain isn't fun.

I know you are ready to buy me a plane ticket home right now. As I
said, I am comfortable here and I have the entire campus waiting to
help me do or get something. They are doing independent French study
the next 2 weeks, so I barely even need to be there. The only thing
related o the accident that would have me consider leaving is that my
spine obviously has a subluxation, so if there is no good chiropractor
here I may need to go somewhere.
Aside from that, everything here is great and I am lovin it. I only
have 6 months left here, so I better run and make the most of it!