My Sister, the Psychic

Do you know any of those people whose life is constantly inundated with chaos? You know the type…there is always something crazy happening to them. There’s always a story to tell…you know those people right?!?

I am one of those people.

Of course I have a story for you.

And so, it was my husband’s birthday this past weekend. Bless his heart; he always had a birthday right at the opening of the school year. A fate worse than death for a child you know.

Well, as sort of a birthday celebration/last hurrah before we delve into the arduous school year schedule my husband and I took a short overnight trip on the motorcycle. We checked the weather, arranged for my sister to have the children, and made a hotel reservation. The weather was gorgeous, my sister was happy to have the kids over, and the hotel was accommodating. We were very excited. The Skyland Drive beckoned.

We attended church Sunday morning, and then dropped off my car at my sister’s house before hitting the open road. It was just beautiful. We meandered all around the back roads of Virginia, visited a very nice antique shop, and had a lovely dinner at a restaurant in Gordonsville, Virginia and checked into the hotel.

Monday morning we awoke early, and we were cruising down the Skyline Drive before 9 a.m. All was right with the world. By two we were headed back down 460 E and our trip took a turn for the worse. Oh my.

It all started with a little rain. Not too much you know…just a little sprinkle. We had been watching the weather for several days and had seen that there was no rain headed our way of which to speak, so we didn’t worry too much at first. But it continued. It rained harder. It began pouring. Did I mention we were on the motorcycle? Yeah.

I had my rain jacket that I had only really brought for warmth. The jacket did little for my jeans. When I was finally able to peel them off they weighed about 50 pounds.

We finally reached my sister’s house. Tom dropped me off and hurried home to get the bike out of the rain. I got out of my wet clothes, but only had pajamas to put on. Since we were only going for over night, I just planned on wearing the same pair of jeans both days. The motorcycle is rough on your clothes, and I hated to ruin two pairs jeans. Alas, this left me with only pajamas to put on at my sister’s house.

When I exited the bathroom from changing, she had a good laugh at my expense. She chuckled aloud of the sight of me standing in my pajamas and bare feet (Tom had taken my only other pair of shoes with him in his haste to get the bike home, and my boots were soaked.) I hurriedly helped the kids collect their items and load up the car. I voiced my concern about my appearance aloud to my sister before exiting her front door to leave.

She stated, “I wouldn’t worry about it. I mean, whose gonna see you unless the car breaks down or something.”

We can all expect her to have her own 800 number soon for callers to find out their future.

I left her house in the pouring raining. About a mile from her house as I pulled away from a stop sign and shifted from first gear to second, my car cut off. I coasted off of the major highway that I had just entered. I was half on the road and half off of it. I tried to start the car several times to no avail. I tried to call Tom. He was apparently still on the bike trying to get home and unable to answer.

I called my brother in law. He came with jumper cables. Bless his heart too. I didn’t need jumper cables. He’s a great brother in law, but I know as much about cars as he does (which isn’t all that much). He helped me push it out of harms way into the driveway of a nearby house. I feel confident that the people who lived there had made popcorn and were pulling up the LazyBoy to the front windows to watch my saga unfold. I swear I saw the curtains move, but no one ever came out to offer help.

Sighing heavily I exited the driver’s seat and popped open the hood to survey the unseen damage. As I stood in my pajamas and bare feet up to my ankles in water on the flooded driveway, I stared into the engine of my car, sheets of rain waving over me. As the passing traffic whizzed by with rubbernecking drivers, I pushed a few wet strands of hair from my faced, and decided to call Triple A.

I gave the AAA operator my number and information. She said that she would call me back with more information and a time when the wrecker would come for the car. My brother in law took the kids back home with him, and I waited for the call back. And waited and waited and waited. I finally called them back. The Triple A lady had given the towing service the wrong number. Of course she did. Why wouldn’t she?

The tow truck finally showed up and took my poor car to a Honda dealership as I stood in the rain in my pajamas and watched it leave. *Sigh* Thankfully the tow truck drive tactfully neglected to comment on my attire, or lack thereof. Good thing for him.

Did I mention that all of this occurred on the night before school starts? Yes, my nine year old son was finally able to shower and get into bed about 10 o’clock last night. No, he won’t be tired on the first day of school. Everyone lets their nine year old's stay up until ten the day before school starts.

Needless to say, I was exhausted after the two hour intense, unsafe, and drenching motorcycle ride, and the pajama wearing, bare feet stint I did in the pouring rain with the car. I was very happy to close my eyes and attempt to sleep.

I am thinking that this is all entirely my sister’s fault. She’s the one who told me that it would be just fine to drive home in my pajamas. I think that I will blame her. Besides, think of all the money that she will be making in her new job as a psychic.