I'll start at the beginning.

I finally got Wendy's documentation via Airborne Express on Thursday.  On Friday morning I picked up her plates.  John called me at work that afternoon wanting me to meet him and Callie and Kevin and Terry at the West Alabama Ice House on my way home.  He said that if I got there early he'd attach the plates for me and we could take pictures and everyone could admire Wendy as they celebrated the end of the work week.  As it was, I didn't get there until around 6 p.m.  It was already getting dark and I had to park Wendy about two blocks away.

We didn't stay long.  I drank one bottle of cider.  Then we left.

I drove down Shepherd and turned right on West Gray.  I stopped at the lights and then took off.  As I was approaching the crossroads at Driscoll (Kroger on the left and Mens Wearhouse on the right) I saw a car half way across the road.  I slammed on the brakes, but it was too late.  I hit the car broadside.  It flipped upside down.  My airbags deployed.

What do I remember?  The noise.  The smell.  The resounding crush of metal on metal was sickening.  It looked as if Wendy was on fire.  There was smoke (steam?) coming out everywhere (airbags?  under her bonnet?).  There was a sickly sweet smell in the car.  All her lights starting flashing.  I remember getting out of the car.  My nose was bleeding and my front teeth had dug a hole in my gums.  Already people had started to gather round, pulling out their 'phones, and helping the other driver out of her car.  I remember seeing blood over my clothes and asked a couple of women if they had a tissue.  They said they didn't, and just stood there staring at the scene.  They had smiles on their faces.  Maybe we all do that?  If you're in a restaurant and a waiter drops a tray do you laugh nervously?  Thinking you're glad it's not you?  Whatever.

I sat on the kerb and watched everything.  It was unreal.  There were November Christmas lights in the trees, Wendy's lights continued to flash, and soon there were tow trucks, police cars, ambulances, and I think even a fire engine, all around.  The road was closed off.  A man kept asking me if I was okay.  "I know about these things," he kept saying.  I was trying to call John on my cell phone but I was shaking so much I couldn't dial the numbers and hit the right buttons.  Once I did get through to him he arrived within ten minutes.  I pulled out my camera and told him to take pictures take pictures take pictures.  The paramedics took my blood pressure and other stuff and tried to get me in the ambulance.  I refused.  Unfortunately over the last couple of days my right leg below the knee has become painful and has swelled up.  It feels as if I have a bee stinging me constantly but is okay if I lie down and elevate it.  I'll go to the UH doctor in the morning if it's not better.

The other driver was taken away in the ambulance.  She was conscious, but they put a neck brace on her.  The police ticketed her and I filled out a report.  Her father arrived on the scene about half an hour later.  I don't know their names.  I didn't speak to either of them.  John thinks her car was a Subaru.  You can check the pictures.  I'm not a car expert.  They all look alike to me, except for Minis.

Even while all this was happening, people were still crowding round Wendy.  They were coming over and saying, "What is it?"  "Who makes it?"  "How much?"  For the first time I just wanted them all to go away and leave us alone.  When the policeman filled out the report I thought I should tell him that I had her plates ready to attach, and I pulled them out to show him.  I told him I'd waited seven months to get her.  He smiled and told me I could always replace her with a Beetle.  His wife drove one and was quite happy with it.

Someone who witnessed the accident posted this on the BMW 3 Series (E46) Message Board:

His description is a little different from what I remember.  But it all happened so fast.  No doubt the other driver's version on the police report will fill in the gaps.

Wendy was taken away by a tow truck.  The driver told me he had a body shop on Shepherd (I'll put the name and address of the place here a little later when I've looked it up) and that the other driver's insurance would take care of everything.  For anyone who wants to look at Wendy (and I know there are a bunch of Mini owners waiting for the pictures), feel free to check her out if you live in the Houston area.

I'll be leaving for England on Tuesday but plan to go to the repair shop sometime before then and take more pictures of Wendy.  Maybe I'll even attach her back plate.

I don't know yet whether she's totalled or can be repaired.  The insurance person will be checking her out within "the next two business days."  What I do know is that she protected me admirably.  She was strong strong strong.  I hope she can be fixed and will rent/borrow/steal cars until she's back home.