Oh to crawl in a hole and die

Remember how our dear, thoughtful friends so kindly threw us a fabulous going-away party? Would you like to know how we thanked them?

We sent them our kid's emergency room bill. (How's that for gratitude?)

Actually, it was our insurance company that sent them the bill. We didn't know anything about it!! Until THEIR homeowners insurance company called us to ask about David's accident. Oh the embarrassment, the UTTER HUMILIATION--to realize that Tricare has spent the summer trying to squeeze every possible nickel out of our friends' pockets. In our name! I am ill right now thinking about it. (Where is that hole for crawling into?)

How did this happen? I guess because we're naive. Or, more accurately...stupid?

Yes, David fell off a playhouse in their backyard during the party and hurt his wrist--under our supervision. Since we were heading west the very next day, we took him to our very own Air Force emergency room that night--thinking that would be infinitely less complicated than trying to find some urgent care clinic in the middle of Nebraska. Sure, there was a lot of paperwork--more than usual--but we assumed they were screening for child abuse or neglect. So we naively wrote down where the accident happened...

...and--here is where we were really stupid--we assumed our HEALTH insurance would pay for it. ER visits, broken bones, X-rays, sprained wrists--isn't that why you have health insurance? But nope. Your health insurance only has to cover that stuff if the accident happens in your own home. Otherwise they are perfectly free--and have the legal right--to stick your friends (or neighbors or grocery store or town or church or whoever) with the bill. As you can imagine, this can create some social awkwardness.

Fortunately for us (and them), our friends have homeowners insurance with a great company. (Did you know your homeowners insurance isn't only in case of fire? It's also in case of David.) Our friends are also smart--they could see what was going on and knew not to take it personally. It's good to have smart friends. Our friends also have a sense of humor. I might even be able to crawl out of my hole--that's how nice they are.

If nothing else, this has been a learning experience for me.

And you too. Here is what you have learned: If we are coming to your house, please ask us to sign a waiver at the door. (Gina, you'd better get on that.)

(By the way. Forget Texas. I'm going to Canada.)