I started driving late due to a variety of reasons mostly related to living in NYC for a while. Didja know that only 25% of families there own cars?
Anyway, a little bit after I got my learner's permit in California I found myself driving down the Needles Freeway with my wife; we figured it would be good practice for me. It was a trip out of state and she was going to take over once we neared Arizona. So we're in the middle of the desert about 20 miles from the Arizona border when I figure it's as good a time as any to switch, so I pull into a rest area… going a little too fast, and heading towards the truck lane when it forks. Wife says, "You're in the wrong lane!" and without thinking I swerve right to get into the car lane, but I was going too fast and the fork was too close so BAM! the wheel closest to me slams into the curb going at maybe 40 mph. The car screeches to a halt. You can imagine what's going through my head. I get out of the car to examine the damage; the struck wheel has been completely sheared off the lower A-arm and its axle has pulled out of the transmission. Did I mention that it's 4:30 PM on Christmas eve?
The wife gets out, hugs me, and does not flay me alive on the spot. I make a few calls but duh, it's Christmas eve, and what dopes are still working? Eventually I manage to get a tow company who hauls us back to Barstow, CA. Naturally their repair shop is closed, as is every rental car agency. We wound up spending that Christmas in a Barstow Days Inn, as well as the next four days while we waited for the town to re-open. Our Christmas dinner was at Denny's. Did I mention that I had taken vacation days off from work for this…
The whole thing ended up costing close to 3 grand. So far that's the most expensive mistake I've ever made. It was, however, the best post-Christmas time with my in-laws ever, as they were super-supportive and it really brought us all together.