I'll certainly never forget the feeling of that cylinder crashing into the undercarriage! Did I mention it was a beautiful white, leather clad BMW ? :-) Mahalo et Merci, Dad ... Thank you for reading and commenting, Bill .. (aka "Special Me" UNTIL being jolted back to reality by the Road Monsters of Chateaufort).

Too funny, Bill! Why did that happen? Did you have to pay for it? Bummer. BTW; looking good in your reflected selfie! Skinny Man!
<3

I had to laugh....had to. I know it isn't funny and I am really, really.....really sorry that it happened to 'special' YOU! And you are, no doubt about it....special that is. And you must admit, it makes for a very funny story about very special you and that very, very, very special white, leather appointed, white BMW!

Gayle .. May "Special Me" suggest to everyone it may be very wise to rent a small Citroen .. a very small Citroen with a corresponding replacement cost. Mahalo et Merci Gayle

I am still laughing, but also saying OUCH!! You very special BMW and very special you got a big surprise!!

We can all leave the world a better place, Pat, by going on a crusade against man-made road hazards .. and thank you for mentioning my heart, which I was able to retrieve from under the passengers seat just prior to making a hasty exit to safety of the outside world. Mahalo et Merci, Pat

Fred .. Ah, Yes .. we have a common shared feeling ! Mahalo et Merci, Bill

Shocker!! I had to go and find husband Jim in the yard to show this to him since he is the driver in France. Maybe it wasn't actually a good idea to alarm him with this driver's education for France. Whew!! I'm so sorry that happened to you. France does have some very interesting ways of slowing drivers down, like planters for flowers taking up half the street, but this one in your blog is unbelievable!

Maureen .. how very nice to hear from you. Danny was very special to me and I continually miss him. We have a beautiful orchid in our yard that is named in his honor and every time it blooms I have warm thoughts of Danny Boy. I am so happy to hear from you .. thank you for taking the time to comment here, I appreciated the comments from everyone more than I can say .. HOWEVER, please know there will be no further Auto Action Stories from France because I've decided to rent bicycles only in the future .. so go ahead, you and my little Sister .. laugh now! Mahalo et Merci Maureen

I was thrilled to get an email from Sue Meredith with the following:

"Hi—I cannot tell you how much I love your blogs. They inspire me, make me happy, make me really think. You are a beautiful and talented writer who can have me laughing with you—and crying too, as with the all too short saga of the beautiful white leather clad BMW!"

Everyone, will you please pardon my self indulgence regarding this beautiful message .. I want it to be here in the comments section, a part of all the incredible comments I've received over the last 4 years of writing for you in Kauai to Paris. Sue, thank you so very much .. you and many others who have taken the time to share a moment on my behalf are a blessing to me and the sole reason I continue to put pen to paper .. fingers to the keyboard .. and share my thoughts.

Mahalo Nui Loa et Merci Beaucoup to all of you.

Bill Facker

Cynthia .. so right you are .. sitting on the "high horse" is false, fun, and disastrous when we fall! Because of your reminder, I intend to go back and read "Note to Self" ...... one million times!

Mahalo et Merci, Cynthia
Bill

I feel bad to be laughing at your misfortune. What an great blog you have here. Kauai and Paris are two of my very favorite places in the world.