Curious? Here goes...
A couple of weekends ago my fabulous friend from Denver, Jenny Jo, came into town for her sister Megan's baby shower. John was out of town riding motorcycles but I was determined to go so I enlisted Grandma and Grandpa Blatter to take all four kids for several hours on Saturday so that I could drive to Sacramento for the shower. They had three soccer games at different fields, so I had all their gear organized and laid out complete with directions to each field, even their water bottles. I was ready to go. I hadn't gotten Megan a gift yet, but I figured I would have a nice drive all by myself and could grab a Target gift card on the way without any kids. Ahh, the luxury. So, I start driving and was going to stop at the local Target but thought instead that I'd rather get on the road and stop along the way somewhere.
Fast forward over an hour into the trip where I find a Target off the freeway in Vacaville. I go in, get my card and walk up to the cashier, rifle through my purse for my wallet only to discover that I HAVE NO WALLET. I took it out of my purse to pay the pizza guy the night before and never put it back in! I can't pay for the gift so I have to go to a baby shower empty-handed! How embarrassing! And I have no wallet and an hour more of driving to go to get the shower. I decide to drive slowly and safely and not draw any attention to myself in my white minivan!
Fast forward one minute into the drive when my gas light goes on! I HAVE NO GAS and NO WALLET (and no secret stash in my car--which considering my record, is just plain irresponsible!) and like 45 miles to go. I call John on his guy's trip, but of course he's off riding, but Clay who fortunately (for me) got injured (unfortunately for him) was nursing his knee and answered John's phone and kept me calm and walked me through my options. I can't really turn around at this point--I'm over an hour into my trip and I really don't want to face the in-laws in embarrassment or do soccer games with the kids and I really have to see my friends! I've come so far! Clay figured out the miles to the gallon and how many gallons are usually left when the light goes on and accounted for the fact that I was on a highway and wouldn't be making any abrupt stops or accelerations. I turned off the AC (on a hot day mind you) and we determined that I wouldn't exactly make it to the shower, but I could get within 10 miles of it. Yikes!
Fast forward another 40 minutes or so where I get off at the right exit and roll straight into a gas station. I call Jenny with the news that I need to be rescued, but then I see a group of young guys all dressed up with some place to go. I start my sob story, bat my eyelashes and get a whopping four dollars out of them! I'm convinced if I weren't in my white minivan and I took off my wedding ring I could've doubled that! jk. So, I go into the gas station and give them my four dollars, they turn the pump on and fill it (which only takes a second when you only have four dollars), I start my car and of course, the gas light is still on. (This was a couple of weeks ago when gas prices were nearly $4.)
I have one gallon of gas to get me to the party!
I show up to see my dear friends totally embarrassed with no gift AND I have to borrow money from them to get me home! What kind of a baby shower guest am I???
Jenny welcomed me with big open arms and said "THAT'S MY ANNIE! YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED ONE BIT!" and we got a good laugh out of the whole thing!
It was so fun to see the Walker ladies and cute, preggo Megan and Jenny and her beautiful daughter, Emery. I love you guys! Thanks for putting up with me! (I hope you got my gifts and money in the mail!)
On the way home after the shower, John calls me. He's heard the news from Clay and is making sure I'm safe. I say, "Can you believe this happened to me?" There's a pause...
Then about 5 guys start cracking up in the background and John says "Do you really want me to answer that?" I was on speaker phone and apparently no one was surprised by my experience. Next question from the guys, "What'd you have to do to get the money?" Ha ha, very funny guys!
I really shouldn't admit all this about myself. Some of you may have thought I had it all together! Little did you know what a scatter-brain I am!
Addendum: Just last night I had to go to Safeway where I left my wallet in the shopping cart the night before! Another Classic Annie for you. (Be sure to shake your head back and forth and tut-tut while you say "Classic Annie") Thankfully an older couple turned it in to the lost and found. What is wrong with me?? Seriously?
Thanks guardian angels!
Sorry John!
17 comments:
I love it!!! And I know for sure if you didn't have that wedding ring on you probably could have gotten a whole tank for free! Does John understand what a catch he has! I am so jealous of you and Jenny! I wish so much that i was there. I saw some pics on facebook of john's boy weekend. It was fun to see him and some of the boys altoghether. We really need to get our butts organized and do something like that! The problem is one of us always seems to be pregnant!
I love you girl! You made my weekend the best! We just needed Carrie there. I love the way you tell the story. You really are a talented writer/storyteller.
It made me laugh all over again to read the story.
Jenny
I love the story! I can relate on more levels than you know. Just ask my husband. :) I once lost an airplane voucher and was convinced he put it somewhere. I of course was wrong (I had placed it in a cookbook only to be found a year later) and have never lived it down.
At least you had your most important thing, your camera! I love you :)
Very funny, you made me laugh! I remember the Walkers from when I was younger, fun to see pictures of them now!
This is so great - you rival Owen in the Oh Owen (Oh Annie) department! It's so fun to see the picture with the Walker women - I love and miss you all. You, too, Carrie. If you ever do all get together, please invite me to come along.
Um that story warms my heart because it just reaffirms how kindred we are! You know I am right there with you in that department, remember when we both lost our keys at the mall?? I love the bat the lashes bit, remember when you got us free articoke dip with those lovely lashes?
love you!
P.S i need a girls night you up for a date?
hilarious -- I'm sorry about the white minivan bringing down your money haul, that's too funny!
No matter how many times you loose your wallet I will still love you, Annie. You are just more concerned with making sure Grandma+Grandpa and everyone else is taken care of, then you leave Annie for last!
Does almost running out of gas count as "road rage"? I'll have to remember to always answer John's unattended phone if it says Annie is calling...
okay you could have tripled that 4$ if you didn't have your ring on... at least! I have learned the following from this story about you
1) you don't crack under pressure!
2) you are freakin' resourceful!
3) we are really a lot alike (which is scary for both of us!)
4) luck is on your side (or should i say a whole group of angels watching over you!)
love you and love to know I'm not the only one who has left thier wallet in the grocery store cart (except when i did it, it never got turned in... WHERE ARE MY ANGELS!!!??)
i need some blog love..check my blog out!!
Thanks Carrie. Although, I think John is more concerned with his credit history than what a "catch" I am!
annie... loved the story... has britt ever mentioned that we might have some things in common??? i had my wallet returned by a good Samaritan just a few months ago, and that's not the first time that has happened! i'm glad it all worked out! :)
That's one of the funniest stories I have ever heard! Sorry! :)
Annie, this story is so great! A real women knows how to use her resources--and, girl, you were resourceful at that gas station. I always think my absent-minded moments will go away once I get to a certain age, but I'm thinking I'm running out of time. Thanks for the story!
I love you & am laughing out loud right now!!!!! I miss my Annie! Can you believe who won ANTM? Random!
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