The phone rang at 9 a.m. I expected the usual cheery "We're on our way," meaning Abby and the kids would be trooping in the back door within 10 minutes. Instead, I heard, "Uh, oh, n-o-o-o, ooh, maybe there's hope, I hope, I hope, please, please, uh, mmf, ungh." And then, "Dad's gonna kill me." Whew. That's when I knew they were okay, not being attacked by aliens or overcome by toxic fumes or...."What's up?" I said, trying to sound more caring than I usually can manage before about noon. Eventually she choked out the fact that she couldn't find her house and car keys because she had locked them in the glove box of her hubby's car, which was long gone to his teaching job on the opposite end of the metro area. (While talking to me she was frantically digging through various places where she thought she might find a spare key, and having exhausted the possibilities, she faced defeat.)
Thing is, this problem is solved with relative ease: Pa drives 1.7 miles to her house (with his house key so they can lock up), brings them to our house, and she takes Pa's car to work. After school her hubby picks up the three of them and takes them home. It's not that complicated; seems to me we've done it before. But for some reason it really had her going!
This woman is so strong and level-headed and confident, and fierce (in a good way) and so good at multi-tasking, you would feel completely at ease having her take charge in any emergency. Except, apparently, when she loses her keys just before leaving for work. We all have our moments, don't we?
20 comments:
In the best of times people do the dumbest things.
I remember about 50 years ago, I was smoking cigarettes then and had run out over night so in the morning on my way to work I stopped at the little store to buy a pack. I was having a nicotine fit. I got them and got in the car and drove off and on the way, I unwrapped the package, took one out, lit it and promptly tossed the other 19 in the pack out the window and it went into the side ditch somewhere. I was out of nicotine again.
In my defense, if Dad hadn't already been in coat, hat, and shoes and out and about, I would pretty much guarantee the problem would've been solved with much less ease and good humor!!!
I like the way you wrote this post, giving us little snippets of information and then the problem and the resolution. I'm going to try to do that myself, it works well. After so many years as a science editor I have trouble with anything that is not linear and boring!
Poor thing.... but you can't help but laugh because we've all shared that moment in some way.
Y'know...I've done this before. I've left my keys in my husband's car and he's driven to work...45 minutes away. It's a HORRIBLE feeling and there is absolutely no thinking straight. All you feel is stranded. You don't think about other people coming to help you out or other solutions to the problem. You just know that you can't help yourself and it is like you're in the middle of the ocean on a liferaft with a whole in it (is that enough metaphors for 10 am?). :D I'm glad you all were able to work it out. Now, Abby - go get yourself a latte because you deserve it, girl!
I love the picture of your daughter and two grandkids. The little one is just so sweet with that upright hair.
I locked my keys in my trunk at Target last summer. I got so panicked, I called the autoclub to come and help. I finally realized the car was unlocked so I popped the trunk, got my keys and sheepishly canceled the auto club call.
I've been there! I'm trained heavily in emergency response but a simply little hitch like locking the keys in the car can still fluster me! Cute. :o)
We have all done that! LOL
Cheers!
Julie
Julie Magers Soulen Photography
Blog of Note
Oops!
I think we've all been there before.
I misplace things a lot.
Beautiful photo and don't we all misplace things from time to time? It's not a good feeling. Glad it had a simple solution.
Never been there but my daughter does things like that too!! Good thing they have such sweet dads and moms!!
Funny how losing the house and/or car keys can fluster the most level-headed of us, especially when we have a deadline to be somewhere. And why is it we can never find that spare key when we really need it?
Well now she won't be in the running for Mother of the Year. That's our joke here on The Avenue when Augie Dawgs makes a silly mistake. Our biggest fear was that she would stop here in the am, grab her coffee but forget to bring the kids in. Mornings are tough.
Thank you for your visit and your kind words.
Your daughter must have had a weak moment there, we women are made of stern stuff and problem solving is our forte! I am sure she had fun reading my list!
Sounds a busy household there Grandma.
Love Granny
LOL...been there, done that!!!
Stressor overload - the hair that broke the camel's back - all different ways of saying the same thing. Just getting two kids into the car in the morning and yourself off to work is monumental. Finding the keys are elsewhere has got to be majorly frustrating. Nice that mom and dad were near - I'll bet she appreciated having you so close at the moment. :-)
I've done that before. I'm usually mad at myself and then after I calm down we figure out a solution.
Good story and writing. I know the panicky feeling about lost keys. Dropped in from Rae's blog. I really enjoyed your posting about the Como Park carousel as spouse and I revisited the park several years ago and rode on it. We both grew up in St. Paul.
Dad to the rescue..that sounds like our house too! She is probably super organized and takes it really personally when something like this happens...I bet she has more keys made this week.. Wonderful story..all is well that ends well.
It is nice to meet someone that isn't a morning person either:)
I just love the photo. That little boy is getting his needs met, for sure. He looks perfectly secure and content. I love it.
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