So you do your kid a favor!

So I am driving to work this morning when my cell phone rings. It is Jamie, the conversation goes like this:

Jamie (J) - what are you doing today Mom?

Alice (A) - I am heading to work at Northwood, why?

J - because Suzanne's car is in the shop and Opal has a doctor's appointment that we need to go to Bellingham and my little sports car can't take all three of us.

A - well, do you want to use the suburban? You can bring me your car at the church and we will just trade vehicles so you can go to the appointment.

J - OK, see you in a few minutes.

I go to work at Northwood. A little while later Jamie arrives. We trade keys, I ask "are there any tricks with your car?"

J - none that I know of. Oh yeah, you need to use the remote to unlock/lock the door.

A - OK, good luck at the appointment. I will meet you back at the C Shop.

J - OK, love ya

A - love you too!

So I get back to the stuff that needs to be finished at Northwood. Walk out to Jamie's little Honda Del Sol (remember I drive a huge Chevy Suburban) and try to get in. First I hit my head on the inside roof of the car then fall promptly into the seat of the car - feels like it is only 5" from the ground! Can't get the thing in reverse, luckily the car parked in front of me left the parking lot. I drive all of maybe a mile from the church to the post office. Turn left on Harrison, come to a stop because a car is backing up and BANG! a different car backing up hits Jamie's car. I pull forward into a parking spot and this young mom gets out of the car ready to break into tears. She screams "are you OK?" I reassure her, tell her no need to cry, asking if she has insurance - yes she does. We exchange information and all I can think about is "Jamie is going to have my head! I get back in the car, oh I forgot - I couldn't get the darn car to shut off so it has been running the whole time the other driver and I are talking.

I back out, drive around the corner to the drive up mail boxes and stretch as far as I can reach (remember the car is only 5" off the ground and how high is the mailbox opening?) trying to put in 17 envelopes (mailing out the bulletins like a good secretary does) and what happens - 4 envelopes slowly fall to the ground - SO I pull forward in the car and try to dislodge myself from the seatbelt and seat. As I turn to crawl out of the car, another car pulls up behind me and the gal jumps out and says "I will get them for you." I yell "thanks!" and put myself back in the car, hitting my head! I am beginning to hate that cute little car.

As I drive back to the C Shop I keep wondering what is Jamie going to say. How hard is it to drive a little sports car? I ponder how the conversation might go - nothing sounds too good. A little while later, Jamie pulls into the parking lot by the C Shop - thank goodness he pulled in on the driver's side. I have a few second reprieve. I walk out to him and begin telling the story and he immediately starts looking over his car. We get to the passenger back corner and he just gasps. I say nothing. Then the conversation goes like this:

A - blubbering, trying to speak as fast as I can, explaining everything that happened (see above) and Jamie just stands there with a smile that is getting bigger and bigger.

J - Mom, its okay, it can be fixed - she does have insurnace right?

A - Yes she has insurance, don't be upset with her, she couldn't see the little car behind her Ford Explorer. Her hubby is in Alaska, she lives here in Blaine, has a little guy, just be easy with her.

J - I will Mom, just give me the information. He chuckles as he puts his lunch stuff in the Del Sol. He walks around to the driver's door, gives me a hug & a kiss and says its going to be okay

A - I apologize again (2x) and Jamie pipes up with

J - Well I learned not to let a girl drive my muscle car (his 16 yr old girlfriend drove the car into a ditch 4 days after we bought the car for him when he was in high school) and now I have learned not to let a woman drive a sports car." all said with Jamie's crazy grin.

A - Have a good day at work and I hope you are really not too mad at me.

J - Mom, its okay. I will give Allison (the gal who hit me) a call on my break.

I watch as he backs up, rev's the engine a little bit and we wave at each other. I think, Lord, give him a good rest of the day. And I will never drive that cute little Honda Del Sol.

I walk back into the motor home feeling sick to my stomach, one more issue for Jamie to have to deal with. Get something to eat (food always helps - just a bowl of soup) and decided to write about my little adventure today.

Hope everyone has a good day. All I know is Jamie can borrow the suburban any time he wants BUT this mom is not driving that little cute black shiny Honda Del Sol.

Where to Find Us in November & December

Just wanted to let you know where you can find us bunking down during November & December of 2008.

We began the month at The C Shop (they are open weekends through Christmas; you can reach them at 360-371-2070) and then moved to Beachwood. We were there just a couple of days when the power went out. We stuck it out for three days and then moved back to The C Shop. We stayed there for just over a week and are now back at Beachwood. We move back to Beachwood on the 19th until the 10th of December. We will return to Beachwood until the weekend before Christmas when we will return to The C Shop to nestle in for Christmas and New Years.

If you are not sure where we are or want to come by for a visit, just give one of us a call. We love to have company and can always be talked into playing a game of bowling on the Wii!

A Quick Note!

Just have to share - we bought a Wii a few weeks ago and finally got it up and running.

Three days ago, I decided that I could do the Wii from the couch. (I had toe surgery 1 1/2 wks ago so upright movement is not the easiest), anyway, Thursday morning was the first day on the Wii.

I was the ripe old age of 80; Ron was 71 :(

Bowling was pitiful for anyone who knows me - 114 :(

Yesterday I was 79! Yeah I dropped a year! and bowling was 124 - a little better.

This morning I had just 45 minutes before needing to leave to get to the church to work (I am at Northwood but as you can see I needed to share my news first!)

So, first off let's see how OLD I am today - 38!!!!
Then to my game of bowling (I want to work up to 3 games a day) - much better to the way I used to bowl when I was a young thing:) 174!

I will share more, just wanted to share some great news.