Friday afternoon I was planning on driving out to Henderson to visit my favorite quilt shop. They were having a 30% off sale, and for everyone out there who is a fabric hoarder like myself, 30% off Amy Bulter and Heather Bailey fabric is not something to be taken lightly.
The original plan was to drive across town around lunch time. The kids and I were going to meet Steve at the Hospital Cafeteria for lunch and then I was going to head over to my happy place. Instead I spent the morning with my BFF and her son playing at the park with the kids and having a great time. When I got home from the park, I realized we were going to have to push the outing until later due to naps. That was my first mistake.
The wind always comes up in the afternoon. The wind has always been my nemesis.
Around 3:00 I loaded the kids into the van and turned the ignition. DRATS! The gas light was on and there was no way I was going to make it across town on fumes. I pulled into the station up the street got out. We were in the middle of a tornado (not really, but it was blustery). I opened my gas flap and started to walk towards the pump. Just then a huge gust of wind came up and blew my hair into my eyes. I took a step back and heard and felt a snap.
NO!!! My heart stopped as I looked down. There, hanging by the plastic cord attached to the gas lid was my flap. I fell to my knees and tried to figure out how I was going to re attach it. Why does this stuff always happen to me? I stood up after saying a few choice words that I would never say in public and wiped away the tears (the car windows were up, so the kids‘ ears didn‘t start to bleed). I walked back to the pump and swiped my card and filled my tank as quickly as I could so I could get on my way. I figured if I drove home I could duck tape the arm back together at the break. I screwed on the lid , jumped in the car and started for home with a glimmer of hope. The whole way home my gas flap was flapping in the wind hitting the side of my car. I felt like such a dork.
When I got home, I tore the garage apart looking for duct tape. How could MY HUSBAND be out of duct tape! He’s MacGyver! He usually has everything in our garage. I went back to the van to inspect the damage again. I decided the break was too short on one side to be fixed with tape. Reluctantly, popped the cord off, threw the flap in the car, and started across town. I was sure that everyone I passed was laughing and pointing. I could just hear all the conversations around the dinner tables…. “You wouldn’t believe what I saw today, this lady, obviously a Mormon mom in a mini van, was driving around with her gas flap missing!” Oh, the humiliation.
It’s taken a few days, but I am starting to cope with the big hole in the side of my car. Although the flashing neon arrow pointing to the hole is still getting to me. I’m not proud. I just keep telling myself that it gives the van more personality.
This morning I was in the shower. I do some of my best thinking in the shower. I was in the middle of washing the conditioner out of my hair when an enormous light bulb went off over my head….
Who would have ever thought Billy Mays would save the day.
3 comments:
You DID NOT Billy Mays that back on your car, did you? LOL ... oh I feel for you. The minute I saw the pic' I said "OH"...kind of a been there, done that sympathy OH.
Hang in there. And I want to hear all about the fabric :)
LOL again, LOL. Billy Mays saved the day. I want to now hear about the fabric.
I laughed so hard when I read this! I am the queen of random things breaking on the car! I broke my passenger mirror- yes by backing out and hitting it on the garage! I didn't think about it flapping in the wind when I drove- and almost breaking my window and denting my car! I finally found tape- the only tape I could find was bright red though!! It's a lovely sight I tell you- it really let's people know I live in Arkansas!!
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