I don't know if it's the new mom business or what, but I swear the brain I used to have that worked so well is long gone. Even before Emma was born I started doing intelligent things like doing a whole load of laundry with no detergent, but I blamed it on the pregnancy hormones. I don't have that excuse now and I get enough sleep at night so that's no excuse either.
Yesterday my friend Kristin was having an open house to celebrate her recent college graduation (yay Kristin!) She lives about 45 minutes away from me, but I drive that way frequently to see my mom, so no big deal, right? The whole trip was ill fated from the get go. I was supposed to leave my house around 4 and lo and behold just before 4 a devilish thunderstorm rolls in complete with huge, thick black clouds and nonstop lightning. The deputy got out of his bed (He worked all night) long enough to inform me that I wasn't going anywhere in this storm, so I waited. It finally tapered off enough for me to get into the car with Emma and the tons of other garbage that seems to be a necessity for going anywhere with a baby. Anyway, we made it to the car in one piece and it was then I noticed there was hardly any gas in it. I should have realized right then and there that I was better off curling up on my couch and watching the olympics, but like I said, this is my best friend's graduation party! SO I go merrily on my way to the ONE gas station between our house and the turnpike. And what do you know, every pump had a red bag on it and said "OUT OF SERVICE". Great. At this point you'd really think I would have gone back home (It's still raining) but no, I decide to get on the turnpike and press on southward figuring I can get off to get gas along the way. Well, as I'm driving, I realize it's rush hour on a Friday evening. The traffic was VERY heavy and VERY slow, and my gas was getting lower and lower. To top it all off, the thunderstorm seemed to be following me, making the roads very slick and not so fun to drive on. I decided to get off at a service plaza so that at least I wouldn't have to worry about the gas problem. I exited no problem and pulled up to a pump, no problem. I rolled down a window for Emma and went to take the key out of the ignition, but it wouldn't come out!! I twisted, I turned, but it wasn't budging. So I tried to start over and turn the car back on, but it wouldn't start!! I tried and tried, but there was no spark of life. I tried not to panic, but it was getting hotter and hotter, I had an infant in the car, it was STILL raining, and there was a man leaning out his window at the pump next to mine drooling at me. (No, really) I called Mikey and frantically told him my situation all the while trying not to cry because he was far away in safeland. He told me he'd call his sarg and go in late and come to help me, but I realized that my sister in law was nearby so I called her instead. And wonderful person that she is she said she'd be right there. After I hung up with her I happened to look down, and saw something that made me cringe because of my own idiocy. The car was still in DRIVE. I never shifted into park. No wonder the dumb thing wouldn't start. I've never done that in my life!! I called Mikey and Courtney back and told them I was fine, grabbed my gas, and got out of there as fast as I could. I think my face is still red from my stupidity. Thank God I didn't make Mikey drive all the way down to tell me my car was still in drive! Oh well. We made it to the open house, saw Kristin, and actually made it home in one piece.
What I want to know is...will my mind ever snap out of this fog? Or is this the price of motherhood? :) Well, either way, Emma is more than worth it!
