Everyone, Carleton and McGill

Well, I've got some news, and some bad news, and good news.

This post is rumour control. Everyone may have heard something, but this is going to be a concise and complete account of what happened last night. I wish to stress that this is a blame-free message. I also state that this is not a post meant for stressed out people, or people likely to react to bad news.

I'll do the news first. We had a great performance at McGill this year, and I can say with certainty that it was my best show, in great part due to the fact that I had an excellent team with me. I'd also like to state that the CIA was at the top of its game. While we didn't make it to the Finals, I proudly announce that we dominated the All-Star round.

Now the bad news, I hope you're sitting down for this one.

Last night, about 3 km from the Quebec/Ontario border, we had an accident. The road was slippery and the car, when trying to come along on a turn, came through some slush on the the road and hydroplaned onto the shoulder. I was unable to maintain control of the car and we veered into the medium, planing from side to side. We rotated about 90 degrees, at which point, the car rolled on it's side 360 degrees once and then flipped again onto its roof.

The good news: THERE WERE NO INJURIES. WE ARE ALL SAFE.

We're alive everyone. A fact we owe to wearing our seatbelts, good luck and the grace of God.

And I wish to say this, second only to the fact that we are all unhurt, that the car was nothing but a collection of metal, glass and fabric. It did its job and its safety features kept us alive. I don't want anyone to feel bad about it, it was just a thing, not a person.

Improv has been my only steady activity for the past four years. As such, I have come to see my teammates as my best friends. Nothing was more apparent to me last night than the fact that I could have gotten some of the most important people in my life killed, and that is something I will never forget. This was an accident everyone, it was due to the poor road conditions and I don't want anyone to think that they are in anyway to blame.

Incidentals: The car was insured with a comprehensive package. All that could be taken away was removed from the trunk, glovebox, etc by my Father and I. A police report has been filed and the insurance company has been notified.

I would now like to take this time to attest to the character and strength of the people in the car with me. They deserve great credit for addressing themselves in a calm, orderly and positive manner. Claire, Chris, James and David are among my dearest friends now for the ordeal we have gone through, and I hope that with this bonding experience between us, that we'll always hold each other close to our hearts.

I have some things I would like to say to each person personally, but I'll leave that for a face-to-face meeting.

The trip back to Ottawa is not very exciting. After being helped by some good samaritans who stopped to see if we were alright, we called the emergency services who came with a tow truck and ambulance. We were evaluated and found to have no injuries and the police filed a report. We were driven to the town of Rigaud near the bordor were the officers were kind enough to leave us at the local 24 hour Tim Hortons where we had some time to relax, play with the beach deck of cards and work through our experience. My father arrived in the other car to meet us there and Kim's parents arrived to pick up Claire, David, Chris and James. My father and I remained in Rigaud to get some things from the car and talk to the tow truck driver. We then returned to Ottawa.

So now you know the whole story.

That is all I have to write at this moment. McGill, thank you for inviting us this year, except for the car crash, I can honestly say I had an awesome time, especially with all the hugs and kisses you were handing out. Yowza Yowza. If you need a place to stay in Ottawa, you know who to call.

-Billy Ruffian, alive and well.