The Conclusion of That "Pesky Car-Accident Stuff" That Was Supposed to Be Taken Care of Ages Ago

My friends are incredible.
This week is our last week of break before PT school, and I have to say, it has been literally the most blissful, relaxing, busy, wonderful, worthwhile break I have had in a long time. I have had the opportunity to enjoy so many wonderful experiences, parties with friends, visits with families, worthwhile conversations, painting, and not nearly enough reading for my heart's content.
This week has been a beautiful blur of terrarium making, swing dancing, painting, Netflix binging, and experimental cooking, as well as finishing last minute errands before being "shut in" for school for the next few months. I have shamelessly stayed up until 3 a.m. all week and played Munchkins with my friends until the morning light. I have had enlightening conversations and gone on lovely walks and I never want it to end. Sadly it will, but at least now I feel like I am more prepared. It's going to be a rough semester, and hard, but I know what to expect now and I'll make it through, some how.

My friends Robert and Chelsea have been especially good to me this week. It feels like we have spent literally every waking moment together this week, tag teaming for group dinners (and Munchkin playing) and making fun of each other, taking blackmail pictures and singing old emo songs from High School. I literally love those two people to death. Tuesday I was baking banana bread for them and put in Splenda instead of sugar, trying to experiment with making more "healthy" banana bread. "Don't feel too bad for eating so much for it," I told them. "It's sugar free!"
"But it's not carb free," Robert commented. "That's correct," I said.
I felt super proud of him for saying that. Most people don't know the difference. I am delighted that my friends and I have gotten to know each other so well. I feel so blessed to be able to go through PT school with the two of them. God really knew what he was doing when he gave me friends like them.

Yesterday, I had to go run an errand in Macon that has, unfortunately, been plaguing me a long time.
Last year after my car accident, (read about it here if you haven't already), a very unfortunate turn of events left me with a $7000 hospital bill from my 2 hour stay there. After a year of unexpected bargaining, pleading and trying to apply for charity, as well as trying to get either Florida Medicaid or Geico to cover the costs, I was entirely unsuccessful. Geico told me that they wouldn't cover me because they don't offer Personal Injury Protection in Georgia (PIP), even though I was a FL resident with a Florida car at the time. FL Medicaid doesn't cover out of state costs. Robert and Chels had mentioned going to Macon to visit what we fondly call "the mothership", aka Mercer's home campus in Macon. Having attended Wesleyan for 3 years, I was well familiar with our "mothership". In other words, it was the reason why the Atlanta campus seems so scant and small to me! I asked them if they wanted to come with me to Macon on my errand to the hospital, and we could sightsee Macon in the meantime. Not the most amazing place to sightsee, but I thought it might be a fun day nonetheless. We agreed, and by 11 am we had all met up at my place and were set to go. We started off our trip by walking around my Alma Mater Wesleyan, and then went to lunch at my favourite restaraunt there, The Rookery, where we were attended to by a waiter whose mustache was totally curly and movie-quality.
Next up was Northside Colisum Hospital, where I approached the registration office and explained my situation as nicely as I could to the woman at the front desk. Trying to hide the upset in my voice over the bill, I was shortly called to the back by a nice woman, who I repeated my situation to. She was extremely friendly, but also, unfortunately, unable to help me. "The most I could do is 20% off if you pay in cash today," she said. That still left me with a bill over $5000, and I was desperate not to pay that much. The bill seemed obscene for how much time I had spent at the hospital, and I will still maintain that it was. I tried asking every other option I could. Tears poured down my face a little even though I kept talking, and she sympathetically handed me a tissue box. I blotted at my eyes. "It'll be alright, hun," she said. "I'm so sorry I can't do more, but it'll work out."
I thanked her and left, clutching a number for the billing office in my hand. "Try calling them," she told me. "They might be able to work with you."
I walked out of the office red eyed and sniffly. I shook my head at Rob and Chels defeatedly. They hugged me encouragingly and we walked out into the cold January air back to the car together. I knew it would be alright, but it was still frustrating. But this was yet another bump in the road, and as much as I hated it, things would have to be sorted out. This was part of being an adult, albeit the part that I totally hated. I called billing over the bluetooth in the car as we drove down Vineville towards Mercer.
After a frustrating ten minutes of putting in social security numbers and account numbers we finally had a man on the phone. I explained my situation, again. "Now, what are you able to do for me?" I asked him. "What can you offer me as far as discounts?"

"Well, we don't have any discounts available for you. I'll need to formally state this," he said. My heart sunk a little. "Ok," I said. He asked, "Can you pay the full balance of $6,866 today?" he asked. "No," I said. "What about two payments?" "No." "What about in three?" "No." "Four?" "No." "Five?" "... I'm a student, no."
I cut him off at 24 payments. "No, I can't make 24 payments of $286," I said. "What will you offer me if I pay the balance today?" I'd already told him the hospital had offered me 20% off and it wasn't enough. "What about a one-time offer of 15%?" He asked. ".... No. I'm looking for somewhere along the the lines of 40% off," I said. "I don't know if that's possible...." he said. "What about 20-" "No, I cut him off. "25%?" "30%", I said. "I might be able to do that..." he said. I pushed farther, as Robert egged me on from the front seat and Chels in the back. "What about 35% if I pay in full today?"
"If I pay in full, will you give me 40?%"
"We might be able to go 40%. I have to get approval from my supervisor."
"If I pay today, will you go 50%?" I bargained.I was worried I was pushing too far, but I was desperate. I didn't think I'd get my bill reduced to the $2000 I was going for, but at this point anything was better than $5000.
"No, I know he won't approve 50%", he said.
"Okay, 45. Give me 45% off and I will pay the full balance today. Ask your supervisor."
He did, and about 3 minutes later the man was back on the phone. "We have approved 45% off. Your new balance is $3866" dollars. That would hurt my bank account for sure, but I agreed to the total after consulting my mom on Chelsea's phone. If that's what it took to take care of it and keep the bill off my credit, so be it.
"Haggling at its finest," I remarked to Chels and Robert.

I paid the amount and requested a written statement mailed to me, and that was that. At least the last bill from the accident last year was over and I could finally go on with my life and leave the event in the past where it belongs. Now, if I could get the $400 endocrinologist bill that was supposed to be covered by Florida Medicaid, and is running into issues, off my back, that would be great.
This adulthood thing sucks, it's true. But I guess I've gotten better over the years, and if there is anything I've learned, it's that you can't fixate on the things that pop up in life to bother you. You have to be smart, push on, and take it all as it comes.
If this is adulthood, I don't really care for it - so much responsibility has fallen on my shoulders since starting college as a wide-eyed, bushy-tailed Wesleyanne so long ago and beginning my adventures in Georgia. I have learned so much though, and slowly but surely I have grown before my very eyes.

I have to pay for my past mistakes, but we learn and we get smarter. And I am learning everyday - learning, pushing on, and loving life for all of the good - and bad - that pops up along the way.

Meeting the very expensive "The Bear" statue at Mercer in Macon - we are perfect in a totally, perfectly retarded way. We also can't take proper pictures because Robert is like 14 feet tall and towers over us when he holds the camera.