You Get A Truck!

 Kevin has been phoning me like every hour, it feels like, since the accident.  We have been beyond diligent getting all the documentation to both insurance companies and phoning regularly to make sure they know we are waiting.  He touches base each time he talks to the insurance, the body shop, and now the in-house counsel at his work. 

He phoned just now and I was a little WUT because it would be the third call today.  (it's 9:45 am)

And now I'm crying.  Happy crying.

Kevin has been reluctantly driving his "big truck" to work.  It is a really nice truck with low mileage and he doesn't mind driving it, just not to work.  His commute is at least 35 miles one way.  He parks in a muddy, gravelly parking lot.  There is no way to keep the truck as nice as it is if he drives it to work every day.

The solution has been that he takes my truck when I don't have work or errands.  This leaves me a little "stuck" because driving the big truck is not my favorite.  But this is completely first world problems.

Because of the insurance and the idiot other driver are taking their sweet time with our claim, we have been unable to get a rental car for Kevin.  Our insurance won't pay for it but will pursue the other insurance company to reimburse the costs if we pay out of pocket.  The other insurance company is standing firmly in the "We'll See" camp.

As the manager at his work, Kevin has a company truck.  He uses it to bid jobs, rescue drivers, go to vendors, etc. But he doesn't drive it home.  Well, that's the obvious solution, you might have just thought.  You're right.  This is where I mention he was being a little prideful and didn't want to ask.  Also, we keep waiting for the insurance to say Go Ahead and this problem will be solved.

Today provided an opportunity though.  He was meeting with the owner of the company (the only person above him in rank, if you will.  I don't say this to brag but to point out not only my frustration with Kevin being prideful but to underline the impact of what has happened.)

He finally broached the subject with him.  He hadn't heard that Kevin's truck was wrecked and expressed sympathy, saying "You have had that truck a long time."  Kevin replied "Your dad hired me on a Friday and I bought it on Saturday."  The owner, without a beat, says "You've had that since 1996!?!"  Dude knew the year of hire for Kevin off the top of his head.  AND understood Kevin's attachment to that truck.

Kevin began to explain what was happening and how we've managed the past two weeks.  "You should take your truck."  his boss answered him without thought. Then, Kevin reports, he paused. "Kevin, you should TAKE your truck.  You should HAVE a truck.  Take your truck home from now on."

Now Kevin is stunned quiet - this never happens - and tells him "It's just temporary until this gets worked out.  I'll pay for fuel and maintenance while I have it.  I don't want it to be a thing."  

The owner stops him mid-sentence.  "No, take your truck home.  It's yours.  Don't think about it again.  You should have a truck.  We'll pay the fuel and maintenance. Don't worry about it. You take it home and don't worry about it."

So, yeah.  That's huge.  It's such a big acknowledgement for Kevin.  It's a big raise/benefit. It solves a problem.  It's a sign from the universe that sometimes life doesn't suck.