Some days it just
doesn’t pay to get outta bed! Yesterday was one of those days for me.
I had the
day all planned; I was going to do everything constructive: clean out the
fridge (yuck!), do laundry, pay some bills, catch up on mail, and cook a nice
dinner.
But... I had so many
interruptions that the only thing on the list that I accomplished was the dinner,
and I did that holding the phone between my ear and shoulder while talking to a
friend. I didn’t want to appear rude by saying, “I’m having a busy day.” So I
cooked and continued talking at the same time, ending up with a stiff neck and
a headache.
While I was multitasking,
Mr. H. came in and said, “I’m going to take your car and fill it up with gas.”
I nodded. Pumping gas is one of those things I
don’t do – right along with cutting grass and emptying garbage! Call me
old fashioned, but I think there are still a few things that only a man should
do. Now, I understand that someday, I could find myself alone with no
alternative but to do these things myself, but, until then – I’ve got Mr. H. so excuse me while I milk it for all it’s
worth!
One of our
neighbors always cuts grass while her husband relaxes in front of the TV. She
has three small children, does all the housework, cooking, laundry, grocery
shopping, and taxies the children to and from their activities. I often wonder
what he does. He doesn’t seem to be debilitated unless it’s something you can’t
see, like a bad heart.
I often tell the
woman that she’s messing things up for the rest of us who don’t want to cut
grass. She just smiles and says, “It’s good exercise.”
She’s right, it is.
But I’ll get mine in a more enjoyable way, thank you! Like going to the gym where I can
watch body builders with big muscles sweat while they work out! (Just
joking, Mr.H.)
I digress.
And so... Mr. H. leaves
to take my car for gas. In a few minutes, he comes back in and says, “Your car
won’t start. Battery’s dead!”
“Oh, great!” I say,
my mind wandering back to the last time this happened: I had left an inside
light on – for about a week. I’m in
trouble if I did it again, I realize.
He changes into
work clothes (this is serious!) and goes back out. His truck is in the
driveway, right in front of the car, which is in the garage. There is no way he
can jumper from his battery to mine. So he removes the truck battery, takes it
into the garage, puts jumper cables from it to my battery and Voila! it starts.
However, when he takes the cables loose, it stops again. Bad battery!
He realizes that
the only thing to do is put his back in the truck and go buy a new battery for
my car, but when he puts it back, guess what? The truck won’t start either! So now... we have two vehicles with dead
batteries! What were the odds of that happening?
I panic!
Don’t like the
feeling of not having transportation in case of an emergency. Our family is
known for its emergencies.
What to do?
Aha! Son #2 lives only five minutes away. Mr.
H. phones him. No answer. No callback. Hmmmm...
Thirty minutes
later, Mr. H. calls his number again. He still doesn’t answer. After about an
hour, he phones and says he went out for a while and forgot to take his cell
phone. It’s still 45 minutes until the auto parts store closes, so he hurries
over with his cables and saves the day by starting the truck.
Off goes Mr. H. and
returns with my new battery. I don’t have to worry about emergencies after all.
At least, not tonight.
***
My life often reminds me of a soap opera—especially the part where the announcer says, “Sorry for the delay; we’re experiencing some technical difficulties.”
www.amazon.com/author/peggytoneyhorton
My life often reminds me of a soap opera—especially the part where the announcer says, “Sorry for the delay; we’re experiencing some technical difficulties.”
www.amazon.com/author/peggytoneyhorton
6 comments:
Funny Peggy! I think we all have days like that but most of us can't write about them as well as you do.
This is great Peggy. You are so good with description. I always feel like I am in your stories. right there with you.
So cute. and so real. This sounds like something that would happen to me.
Love this, Peggy! Is that your son? Very handsome!
Good one Peggy, we all have those days, and nights also, I messed up my TV last night, by using the old remote to change channels, first no picture or sound so call comcast we work together and got the picture back on but no sound, by this time it is 1:00am and I am getting frustrated, so a tech is coming to day.
Good luck with that, Drema!
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