Episode #15 Well, it finally happened

I call Ganny every day on my way home and Tuesday was no exception. She told me right off that she "had a wreck." It was what I've been afraid of. Her driving has been an issue for at least the past year. She's not so bad that we need to forcefully taker her car, but it's bad enough that we're concerned. Of course I asked if she was okay and what happened.
"Well, I went 20 (she means I-20) and I knew I shouldn't have. I should've gone (she throws some numbers out that do not relate to any highways in the metroplex) and ever body had to stop real quick. I hit the brakes but they just didn't stop me in time. It could've happened to anybody. This has nothin' to do with me not bein' able to drive."
While she had been talking the stun of it faded, and I realized I should be concerned about her as my grandma, not just some elderly person that poses a danger to the Arlington/Mansfield area.
"No, I know Ganny. It's okay. I've had an accident like that too. These things happen."
"Well, I just know ever body's gonna blame this on me bein' old and say I shouldn't drive. It has nothin' to do with that. It could've happened to anybody," she repeated. "Your daddy's never gonna let me hear the end of this. He's gonna say, 'Oh, you can't drive, Oh you need to stop driving' and it's not because of me."
"I know, I know. He will Gan. He's just like that. Just let him have his little fit and don't try to argue with him," I instructed her. My dad does enjoying having a good fit when the opportunity presents itself.
"He's just never gonna let me hear the end of this," she said again.
"Well Gan, at least this will give him something to hassle you about besides your marriages," I joked, hoping she would laugh. Gan has been married six times. My dad likes to bring this up as often as possible.
She did laugh a little. "No, he'll probably say something like it's because I was married all those times that I had the accident or something." It was my turn to laugh.
"Well I understand Ganny, I do. It's okay." That type of accident does happen often. At least, that's what I told myself. "Was there only one other car involved?"
"Oh yeah, I just ran into the back of this man, well, he was a police officer but he wasn't wearing police clothes, and he was so nice to me. He just took care of all of the paper work. He was just so nice."
Red flag #1: This I thought could be good or bad. It's probably best that someone competent and of sound mind write down the necessary policy numbers etc. However, was this man really a policeman? What information did she give him? One assumes it was her insurance card, but when deciphering Ganny, you just can't be sure. All I could do was hope for the best.
"Well Ganny that's wonderful. I'm so glad they were nice to you," I told her.
"Yes, some other policemen came too. I think they just wanted to take a break 'cause they were all just standin' around talkin'," she laughed.
Red flag #2: I thought, Oh my goodness...How many policemen were there? How bad was this?  "And they were real concerned about me," she continued. "They made me sit in the back of the car 'cause they were afraid I might get hit. I was afraid we might cause another accident 'cause we were in the middle lane."
Heart-attack-inducing red flag #3: The thought of my elderly grandmother roaming around the middle lane of I-20 on a busy afternoon made me cringe. I don't know what I would do if something happened to her. How can I continue to let her go around living life without someone to watch her? How could I ever convince her to consent to being watched and having her independence limited? If something happens to her, am I going to wish I had done something differently?
"Oh no! Oh Gan, I'm glad they took care of you. That scares me that you were out there," I admitted.
"Well I was scared too," she said lightheartedly. "And they kept asking if I was okay, and I kept tellin' 'em I was fine and nothin' on me hurt, but 2 or 3 ambulances showed up anyway."
Red flag #4.
She continued, "I told 'em 'I'm fine, I'm fine.' I just didn't hit him that hard."
It crossed my mind at this point that I really wouldn't have any idea how bad this was or how hard she hit the other car until I saw hers.
"How is your car? Can you still drive it?"
"Oh yeah, I drove it home. I'm just gonna go to this place I found in the yellow book (phone book) tomorrow and have them tell me how much it is."
Red flag #5. Where is this place? Is it legit? etc. What could/should I do?
And I thought that would be all. We hung up and I took a deep breath.
The next day after work, I made my call again. "Hi Gan, how are you?"
"Well, the insurance company called today," she sounded very annoyed. "They were askin' me all kinds of questions like my name and address."
"Now Gan was this your insurance company or theirs?" I questioned.
"Mine, mine," she answered quickly.
Why was her own insurance company asking this kind of information? Don't they know already? Is this some kind of scam? Did she make some kind of statement to an attorney or important insurance person and not realize it?
She interrupted my panic. "That pregnant lady thinks the baby might be hurt or somethin'."
Red flag #...oh who cares. It's a giant red flag!
"Now Gan, I thought there was only one other car?" I tried to keep my voice controlled.
"Well there was but she was in the car with the policeman," she explained.
"Okay Gan. Well I'm sure she just wants to get a check-up. If you didn't hit them that hard, she should be fine," I told her, trying to convince myself in the process.
So now I'm left wondering whether or not I should try to keep my grandmother from driving and whether or not she will be sued in the near future.
The End. (If only it were.)

Useful Ganny Terminology

TV shows = programs (pronounced "progrums")
perm = permanent (which she gives herself once per year and has for decades now)
hair stylist = beauty operator
gas = fuel
butt = hiney butt
anyone in the school district that's not a teacher = superintendent
make-up = meckup
root beer = rut beer
any type of doctor's visit = check-up or surgery