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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Dude, Where's My Car?

We live about 100 yards from the boys' school. I love it that we never have to drive to school in the Morning Drop Off Melee. Instead, we walk over about 5 minutes before school starts. However, Finn, in particular, always asks to drive.

Yes, once again my hardy mountain children show their true colors.

Anyway, yesterday I did actually drive over to the school in the late morning. On Sunday, we had the biggest fundraiser of the year, Wild West Day, out at a local ranch. I had to return a tent and some other stuff to the office. The tent was a little too heavy to lug even 100 yards. Or maybe I'm just wimpy.

So I drove over, parked, dragged the tent and other stuff inside, and went to the lunchroom where I was having lunch with Finn (have I raved about how this year our school has 100% scratch-cooked lunches?) and then helping supervise kids composting their trash. And, as always happens, a teacher grabbed me and asked me to do something else and yadda yadda yadda, two hours later I was finally heading home.

I did some work, some laundry--the usual.

When it was time for school to be out, I walked to meet the boys. Homework was completed, snacks were eaten, and then it was time to go to Finn's gymnastics in the next town.

The boys went out to the garage ahead of me.

Boys: The car isn't in the garage.

Me: Oh hahaha, you guys, come on, get in, we don't want to be late.

Boys: Seriously, the car isn't in the garage.

Me: Look again. Maybe you just can't see it if the light didn't come on. It is black, afterall. (Yes, I really said that)

And then I paused. Did I park out front? No.

And then reality set in. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY! SOMEONE HAS STOLEN THE CAR!

And then I paused again. Why would someone steal a 1999 VW Passat Wagon with nearly 190,000 miles on it, rear speakers that don't work, electric locks that don't work, a paint job that has now suffered through four mountain winters and is covered with at least an inch of dust from being at a dude ranch the day before...and leave approximately $10,000 worth of bikes? (Yes, the bikes in our garage are collectively worth more than both of our vehicles combined)

It made no sense.

I was puzzled. What a stupid car thief.

And then I came to my senses and walked over to school for the third time that day.

PS: The saddest part about this story is that when I left school after lunch, I walked RIGHT PAST my dear, dusty car. Right past it. No clue. No clue at all.

10 comments:

Leeann said...

That is hilarious and I can totally imagine doing the exact same thing.

How great that you are so close to the school! How about the middle and high schools? Are they close too?

M said...

...then you wished it were stolen so you could get more $ for it thean it is actually worth :)

lMnop

1dreamr said...

Love it!!!!

Kristie said...

We also live about a hundred yards from the school and what's sad is that I *do* drive my kids most mornings. Ridiculous, I know. But Brayden's back pack is crazy-heavy, plus she has a purse, lunch box, etc .... and Kendrie is carrying an also-super-heavy messenger bag, violin case, and lunch box. They just seem so bogged down I wind up driving them to eliminate 75 of those yards. Its pathetic. Most days I walk to the school to pick them up and wind up helping carry all that stuff ..... although I can totally see myself leaving my car there by mistake. :)

jodydem said...

FUNNY...are you sure you are just in your 40's?

Jody

jean said...

hahaha! Just goes to show what creatures of habit we really are, which helps us not have to remember as much. :-)

Anonymous said...

LOL! AHHHHH Mental-Pause at its finest!!

Hugs!
Connie

Lisa said...

Too funny, Nat! Thanks for sharing a good laugh!

Lucinda said...

God love your heart, Nat. Just tell people you were doing your part to save the earth. (If it makes you feel any better, Andy found a kids' sock in the sleeve of his uniform at work today!--I'll send you the picture if you need a laugh.)

Beth said...

This makes me feel very competent. It is a very unfamiliar feeling!