How many items have you lost in your lifetime? Too many to count on two hands, I bet. How about in just a year? Eyeglasses, socks, mittens, scarves, yoga mats, reservations, friends (hopefully not!), shoes, books – oh dear, the list can go on and on.
But how many of you can say you lost a car?
I raise my hand.
A week ago I wrote about the day I saved my son-in-law’s butt. No, not really, but I did come to his rescue, babysitting early in the morning so he could go to work. What I didn’t relate was the rest of the story.
“You have to be back here by noon,” I had admonished as I comforted the baby and said goodbye to Dan at 7:40 a.m.. “I can’t miss my 12:45 doctor’s appointment.”
I admit, I worried that Dan would forget. He could get lost in his job while reading reams of detailed court cases and lawsuits and …but no, he entered the door at 11:58 a.m. with a smile and a long verbal paragraph of thanks for helping him out.
I left him and my little grandbaby feeling happy, useful, relaxed, and…five blocks later, confused. Where’d I park my car? I was sure it was here, although on this part of the city, all the narrow old streets looked the same.
I walked up and down Revere Street, then Pearl, and even Brown. No car.
I returned to Revere, noting that no cars were parked on the street side where I thought I’d left mine. Suspicious now, I walked 10 yards to the closest sign.
“Street Cleaning
9 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
3rd Thursdays every month”
No.
Couldn’t be.
What day was it? I checked my phone calendar as I began to race back to my daughter’s townhome. Not only was it Thursday, it was the third Thursday of the month.
S H I T!
I called Dan. Before he got out a perplexed “Hi,” I told him my dilemma.
“Take my car!” he responded immediately. “I’ll find yours!”
As I ran up their brick stairs, the front door opened and keys dangled from Dan’s fingers. I grabbed them and flew to his ginormous florescent blue Toyota SUV.
I don’t remember how I drove that truck across the Charles River and 30 miles further, but I got to my doctor’s appointment on time.
And Dan found my towed car in a nasty city lot, rescued it with a $125 ransom payment, brought it back to me the next day.
As we exchanged cars I thought: I lost a car but I found another reason why I’m glad my daughter married this guy!
Been there, done that, in Boston. Once had to rescue my sister’s car from the impound lost on Boyleston St… at midnight… in November… 8 mod pregnant! Not fun!
Nice piece. Your son-in-law is an angel!
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The stories we have to tell, huh? Yours is even better…or is it worse? :+0
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What a terrible, sinking feeling that must have been, seeing the Tow Away sign on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Glad everything worked out OK! 🙂
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Life usually does, work out, right? In one way or an-other. The ‘other’ is what’s fun to write about.
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In NYC, Linda had taken Mark in for an interview with the Columbia University running coaches. When they came out, her car was gone. The coach was able to help, but Linda had to go into the creepy place to rescue her car, then drive all the way home!!
Glad to say, it hasn’t happened to me, YET……
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Well, let this be a warning. Read ALL street signs, even if 10 yards away from your car!!!!!
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Great story (and I know it’s true!) Yes, Dan is the best and I know that too!!
Mom
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You are very lucky to have such a wonderful Son-in-law!
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And the best thing is that I found out (after the fact) that he reads my blogs – and isn’t mad at me for my “Mother in Law” post the time before. :+)
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