The things we do for Dora

One of our favorite places to go in Columbus in the science museum COSI. In January we got a flyer advertising that Dora was going to come to COSI in March. Bailey was ecstatic. She adores Dora, and asked me a least once a week if Dora was at COSI yet. Finally, the much anticipated day arrived.

We got up, got a drink at the gas station, and headed to COSI. Across the street from the museum are parking meters that are super cheap- only 25 cents for an hour and fifteen minutes. Mike started to pull into a parking spot next to a F-250 truck with tinted windows, and suddenly ran into something. That something was the door of the truck being opened at the exact time that Mike was pulling in.

Nobody was hurt, luckily, The car was not so fortuitous. I'm amazed that such slow speeds could cause so much damage. The truck's door was also crunched, but not nearly to extent of our little Honda. After the initial angry swearing by the truck's driver, everyone was very cordial.

However, we definitely had a problem. The truck driver was adamant that it was our fault. The police came by and wrote it up, and gratefully, only cited both drivers for inattentive driving, instead of giving both of them tickets. The police officer tried to explain that his truck was only safe inside his parking spot lines, and that we are not responsible for the damage done out of it (which his door was).

Our insurance company also thinks that the truck driver is at fault, but will only file a claim against their insurance if we tell them to.

So, we don't know what to do. Mike could/should have pulled in slower, but the guy should have looked before he opened his door. It was also frustrating that Mike and I both had looked at the truck and thought that no one was in it. Because of the tinting, it looked like an empty truck.

We kind of feel like both parties should just pay for their own damages. However, if we don't file a claim does that mean we are admitting fault? Who knows. I thought insurance companies were supposed to figure all of this out. Instead, they are leaving it up to us.

The police officer left, and we all went into COSI. The lines were the worst I have ever seen. We have been members for three years, and have gone to COSI more than a few times. And I have never seen it so crazy. The line just to get in wound around the front hall. We finally got to the front of the line, and were informed that they were not letting anyone else into the Dora line. Bailey was crushed. We told her that we didn't think she was going to see Dora and the tears started pouring. She had been waiting for months, literally.

We went to the line anyway, hoping to be let in. They told us it was a two and half hour wait, but if we took a purple ticket and stayed in line, Bailey would meet Dora. So we waited. Avery and I ended going home for nap time. And Mike waited. After a "mere" hour and a half, Bailey finally got to meet Dora. Unfortunately, although the camera we had the camera, the battery was dead. Mike took a picture with his Blackberry, but neither of us can figure out how to get pictures off of it.

A car accident and super long wait later, Bailey got to meet her story book heroine. I guess it was worth it...