Slapped Silly By My Driving

I must first note, that I am writing this blog under duress. It has been brought to my attention that if I don’t “out” myself with the following anecdotes, my family will. Long held under my half-joking threats of the “blog worthiness” of the various events of our home, the tables have now turned.

Recently I began freelancing in public relations. I am driving a great deal. Big Al decided the time was right to upgrade our main vehicle and found a wonderful, slightly used Nissan Altima.

Driving to a client meeting last week, I thought I would listen to my iPod using the handy-dandy auxiliary plug in the car’s sound system. All was well and good for the first couple of miles of the trip. The tunes were cranked, I was singing, it was all good-to-go. Then I had to make my first tight turn and something slapped me hard across the face! Seriously. I was literally struck squarely across the side of my face.

Now, it was dark and I couldn’t see well with only the console lights, so concerned I slowed down and started to pull to the side of the road. That’s when I was hit again, but on the other side of the face.

Stopped now, I looked all around and finally determined that I had plugged the iPod cord through my steering wheel and then into the plug. Each time I turned the car wheel I propelled the perfectly palm-sized device into a direct orbit with my face.

OK, one confession down, here’s the second.

This new car needed a little body work. The dealership agreed to fix it as part of our purchase agreement and I borrowed my mother’s car for a few days.

Leaving another meeting, I hurried out to what I thought was my mother’s car. Throwing my purse and notebook in I discovered I had accidentally picked up some papers from the desk where we had been sitting. In an effort to “appear” casual and totally together I decided to lock my purse and large notebook planner in the car and run in to return the paperwork.

Coming back out to the car I attempted my mother’s automatic door opener. Nothing happened. I tried again… and this time could faintly hear the sound of the car lock beeping - except it wasn’t coming from the car in front of me.

Peering inside I could see a purse and a planner that resembled mine. Clicking the door opener again I see my mother’s car – across the parking light – flashing its lights to indicate the doors are now open.

Figured it out?

I had gone to the parking lot. Locked my planner and purse inside someone’s previously unlocked car and was now faced with the fun of taking my oh-so-not-casual-and-all-together-self back into the business to page some poor unsuspecting employee or customer to come fetch my things from their car.

I love this car and am confident the fun and columns are just beginning.