A Day

You ever just have a day?  I had one today.  One of those doozeys when you look at the clock and think "Are you kidding?  It's still today? I feel like ten years has passed!"  

It started with a trip to the doctor's on the insistence of my husband and my mother - a formidable pair.  But since I've been up coughing for the last couple of nights, I agreed to go. (I'm a big fan of sleep.  I can do without a lot of things - sleep is not one of them).  I have a great doctor, so I don't mind him so much it's just the idea of it.  Especially because I was just at the doctor's (ok a different doctor, but still) two days earlier.  I really do think I got sick at the doctor's office (the first doctor, I mean. sheesh - I'm not making much sense  -  for reasons that will soon become apparent.)  

Anyway, I took Emily with me for several reasons.  First, she needed new ballet shoes and since I had the van, and the shoe store is near Wally world I figured I could get any needed prescription filled and then go get her shoes while I waited - because, of course, Wally world takes forever.  Second, she's good company.  She likes to talk to me and she makes me laugh. And lastly, if I leave her at home with the boys while they are trying to do their schoolwork, she will pester them to death to play with her and they crumble to her will like graham crackers whacked with a rolling pin to make a pie crust.  So, she came with me.

She kept me company in the waiting room by pointing out the problem with having a bookshelf that was brightly labeled "Children's Library" but had only magazines for grown ups on it.  And other than scolding the Doctor for not having books for kids to read she basically just watched.  I, however, was more argumentative when the doctor told me that he was pretty convinced that I had the 'flu.  

"I had a 'flu shot months ago" I told him.

"Yes", he replied, "we're seeing a lot of people who've had the 'flu shot get the 'flu"

Now, I understand that there's a different strain out there and he explained that because I got the 'flu shot I'd likely have a much less severe case. I still feel gypped. I got the 'flu shot.  I want immunity!  

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So I came to terms with it and went to get the meds - which of course I knew would take an hour.  Because it's Wal-Mart and nothing's ever easy there.  We got the shoes then went back and got the meds and made it home for lunch.  And at this point I started thinking - 

"I feel terrible.  I'm typhoid Mary.  Today is ballet.  I'm going to take the girls and go wait in that tiny little room with people that have smaller children - one's just a few months old. I can't take my medicine until I get back because it will make me sleepy.  I'm insane"

So, I called Joel and we decided I'd go get him at work, and he could take the kids to ballet and I could stay home in a medication induced fog drinking hot tea.  I just had to drive to his work at get him (see previous post about Old Faithful - still not fixed yet) and be back in time to get my little charges off the bus.  I left plenty of time for error and away I went, dreaming of warm tea and cold compresses.  On the way, I hit a pot hole.  A nice, juicy pot hole. My tax dollars at work.   It was on a narrow road that stays relatively busy and it was while going down a pretty steep hill.  No place to stop immediately to check and see what the noise was, but as soon as I could, I did.  My tire was shredded.  I'm not even sure why I was surprised.  

I pulled off onto the next side street and pondered for a moment.  I hadn't taken the cell - not that I have clue number one who I'd call because pretty much everybody I know works.  I had to be back home in an hour and 15 minutes (and I was still about 25 minutes away from Joel's work) and I was not feeling well.

But this is where I thank God for my family.  Because when I was growing up someone, maybe my dad or my brother - I really can't remember -  insisted that I know how to change a tire.  And I did.  I got started and got the spare down (which on our van is in a really weird place) and jacked up the van and remembered to loosen all the lug nuts before I took any off completely.  Just as I was taking them off, a very nice man and his wife saw me from the main road, pulled off and stopped and then he finished.  Chivalry is not dead!

I went and got Joel (who was concerned for me because he knew it shouldn't have taken so long to get there) and we made it home 5 minutes before the kids got here.  He took the kids to ballet and dropped the ones that didn't belong to us off at their house and came home.  

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Some women get flowers or candy, stuffed animals or even diamonds for Valentines Day.  Me?  I got the 'flu and a flat tire.  And a husband who came home from work and ran all my errands and is even now out getting me popsicles.  All that and I got chocolate, too!  I have a real gem and I wouldn't trade him for anything.