My Car Was Declared A Total Loss

What an adventure 2025 has been—and not one I ever want to experience again, nor would I wish upon anyone.

This is an unusual post for me, not something I would normally write. But I feel the need to, because this experience woke me up and shifted my mindset in ways I didn’t expect.

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My Car Was Declared A Total Loss

Most importantly: No one was reported hurt during this incident.

To set the scene, I was at the gym at a time I don’t usually go. Work had run late, and I kept misplacing things—my water bottle, my keys—my ADHD was in rare form that day. I remember feeling extra irritated.

As I walked into the gym, there was a class of very young Taekwondo students that had just let out and those kids and parents were skipping to their cars. No more than ten minutes later, an altercation broke out in the parking lot. Someone pulled a weapon and unloaded an entire clip—four of those bullets hit my car. Miraculously, they missed the person they were aiming for…

I’m still so shocked by it all. My gym is in a nice area, surrounded by families and kids. The fact that something like this happened here, where anyone—especially those little ones—could have been hurt, absolutely kills me.

Sigh. Oh, friends, so many thoughts raced through my mind when the parking lot filled with police cars. I could see them piling up through the windows, gym members were peering outside. My heart was pounding. I didn’t even hear the shots! I was listening to my audiobook. (Silver lining: I absolutely crushed my personal record. Thank you so much for asking.)

I was nervous to leave so before heading out, I made sure to follow a few guys so I wouldn’t be alone in the parking lot. That’s when I saw it—my car and two others, roped off with crime scene tape. LITERAL crime scene tape! And, my sweet, wonderful, reliable car—caught in the crossfire.

In all seriousness though, a moment for the police officer who helped me that night: He was incredibly kind, let me sit in the back of his car to stay warm, and even drove my car key to my house after the scene was cleared. The detectives were able to catch the shooter. You’d think I’d be over-the-moon relieved, but honestly? I just feel sad. The person responsible was underage and involved in a gang. And, while I absolutely believe in accountability, I also can’t help but wonder—what led them here? How did a kid’s life spiral into this? It made me think deeply about the entire system, about cycles of violence and missed interventions. And no matter how much I think about it… I don’t have an answer. I wish I did.

As eventful as that night was—and as much as I love a good cozy mystery, dear reader—this was NOT one bit cozy. And yes, jokingly, I’m a little disappointed the detective and I didn’t fall in love. Unjokingly, dealing with insurance took over three weeks and required way too much research. But, another silver lining: Once my car was officially declared a total loss and given a salvage title, my insurance payout was enough to help me get a replacement.

What’s next?

Car shopping. My goal is to find the perfect replacement—a reliable car I can drive for another 20 years. The challenge? The model I have my heart set on is very popular in the PNW, and finding one in mint condition with low mileage feels nearly impossible. But I’m staying patient. Luckily, my dad is letting me borrow his car in the meantime, so there’s no major rush. Fingers crossed I find the right one soon!

Final Thoughts: Guns shouldn’t be a normal part of our daily lives. This experience reminded me of that in the most personal way possible. It’s terrifying to think how differently that night could have ended. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know this: We deserve better.