Testing a Theory

I have a strong and somewhat irrational dislike of people who drive fancy cars.  I hate when people think that having money makes them special, and I particularly hate it when they prance around displaying their money to others*.  This is a somewhat unfortunate attitude to have as a physician, as many of my colleagues own fancy cars, and I can't help but judge them unfavourably when they park next to my grungy Corolla in a freshly washed BMD with a vanity plate that reads "DOC MD".

I've always maintained that all I need from my car is to get me from point A to point B, preferably without contributing too much to the nightmare of global warming.  When asked if I would be buying a new car when I finished medical training (because buying a new car is so much more important than paying off my six-figure debt), I would reply smuggly "I don't want a fancy car.  I'm going to drive my car into its grave."

Well.

Yesterday, while picking my girlfriend up from work, I started backing up my car while asking her about how her day at work was going.  I was clearly distracted by the conversation, because I drove my car straight into a dumpster.  It wasn't a case of seeing the dumpster and misjudging how far it was from my car, but rather a case of completely not noticing that the dumpster was there.  I was so oblivious to its presence that it took a moment before I realized that the loud crunching sound was somehow being caused by my actions.  Horrified, I got out of the car to discover that my left bumper was completely bent inwards.  In a 90 degree angle kind of way.

Amazingly, the damage was purely cosmetic.  The rear light was scratched a bit, but the plastic didn't break, and it's still fully functional.  And the bumper is plastic, so it won't rust despite the surface being horribly and irreparably damaged.

So, this is my test.  I said I didn't want a fancy car and I only needed it to get me from point A to point B; I guess we'll find out whether I really meant it.

*Not to mention the people with fancy cars who do not actually have money and are fools in addition to being snobs.