Today started out like any other day, I woke up a little too late, the kids and I ran around getting ready for school, as is our routine and we had ten minutes to spare. Just like everyday. I had a full list of to-dos today, which included my job, a huge side project that isn’t a side project at all, a showing at our house and being a Mom and a Wife.
We dropped Racecar off at school, picked up a cup of coffee from McDonald’s and headed home. I was busily preparing my massive to-do list in my head, knowing that I’d forget something if I didn’t write it down.
We pulled into the driveway, I couldn’t spare a second, I had so much to do. Deadlines! House to clean! Blog! I opened the garage door with the opener, we jumped out of the car, approached the door. And it was locked. but that’s okay! I have a house key! I retrieved my keys from my messy purse, “I don’t have time for this!” I say to myself. I slid the key into the lock. No good, still locked. I slid a different key into the lock; still locked.
We were locked out of the house.
All I could think about was my laptop sitting on the table and I was unable to access it. Sure, I had access to my blackberry, but there wasn’t much I could do with that. So, I called my realtor, I knew she would be able to open our lock box and get us in. I called. No answer. I left a voicemail. I e-mailed her. In the meantime, poor Ariel was starving as she hadn’t had breakfast, yet. We drove through the McDonald’s drive-thru, we parked and ate and waited for a return phone call.
“Could this day get any worse?” I thought to myself.
We drove back home, parked in the garage, I sent a few e-mails, cleaned out the car, while Ariel rode her bike and drew on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. Suddenly, she comes running towards me with her hand behind her back, she screamed at me concerned “I HAVE TO POOP! I HAVE TO POOP! I HAVE TO POOP! IT’S COMING OUT!”
oh dear.
“Ariel, you are going to have to hold it.”
She shot me a look like “honey, they’re ain’t no holdin’ this shit in.”
I read her look, got the message, and told her to get into her car seat, “sitting down will help you” and “I’ll drive us to the gas station.” “Okay, Mama,” she replied. I rush her, “hurry, honey! HURRY!”
We went into reverse.
And I ran over her bike.
Are you freaking kidding me? The only thing worse than running over your child’s bike, is if they are with you when you run over their bike. She watched heard ME massacre HER bike? Suddenly she wasn’t worried about poop any longer.
And I started looking for hidden cameras and Ashton Kutcher hiding behind the bushes.
No camera. No Ashton.
We drove to the gas station, did our business and started heading home to, I don’t know, sit in the driveway and stare at the broken bike. But instead, I turned in the other direction. My mood suddenly shifted.
I surrendered. I quickly realized that sitting in my garage isn’t going to make my realtor call back any sooner. Instead, I embraced the bad moments of the morning and set out to make our morning better. We drove to the Dunes and went for a long walk, or adventure as we like to call it. We sat at every bench on the trail, but only for a moment on each as we had lots to see. We talked. I smelled spring. I listened to those birds singing their amazing songs. I felt the softness of my daughter’s hand inside of mine. No computers. No cell phones. No blackberries. Just she and I, and James and Jake.
I felt them. I was filled with emotion, sadness and love mixed with anger and delight, but I felt the peace of my life during those moments. Walking hand in hand with my daughter, I missed my sons so much. Her touch providing the strength I needed.
During those moments, while surrounded by trees and birds and flowers and sun and love, so much love, I felt like James and Jake had wrapped a gift up for me, wrapped in a bad morning, but inside that bad morning was glory and goodness. We have decided, Ariel and I, that on Mother’s Day we will walk through the Dunes with Brian and Racecar by our sides. And I know, I just know James and Jake will be above us, smiling.
I can’t wait to do it every single year. I am so glad we were locked out today, it is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me.
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This post was originally posted in May of 2008. I needed to repost for me and for you. I miss that day. That feeling. I need to feel it again. We may be going for that walk again today.
Beth, this post is so beautifully written! As soon I started reading, I remembered reading it before (the BIKE! the WALK!). I can’t believe that was a year ago! You’re a fantastic writer; I feel your words. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself! Hope you have a great walk today.
Beth, this was such a beautiful post. As a newcomer from a few months ago, I had never read it before.
Just lovely!
I remember that day so well! I love, love, love this post so much. Lemonade, indeed.
I love you!
I remember loving this post so much. I was cracking up again and then tears.
Everything DOES happen for a reason
Wonderful post!
I love this post, thanks for putting it up again.
One of my favorites….(out of the 100′s that I love!!)!!!!
i remember thinking, “oh for the LOVE!” (at the bike)
then and now.
i remember cracking up! (at ashton in the bushes)
then and now.
i remember wanting to make lemonade (every.single.time.)
then and now.
thank you.
I love this because it goes all the way from laughter to tears and every emotion in between. I hope you get that walk soon.
we all need a day like that. i hope you get to have yours soon.
Loved this post! The pooping part was totally cracking me up! It made me have to go as I was reading it….LOL… Oh, by the way, Today I wore my Team James & Jake T shirt and I felt so good wearing it. I got some comments on it when going out and about.
OK, I check on you daily! Pray for you constantly and being a fellow blogger, I know the rules, leave a comment, no matter how many are there, and I don’t! Just know, I really, honestly check and think about you and your family daily you and your family are always part of my prayers and thoughts!
Anyway, that being sad!
I remember this post from before and it still takes me through every emotion, from sheer laughter to tears! Love ya!
I didn’t mean to print sad, I meant said!! sorry. But sad that I don’t go on ahead and comment!!
This is one of my favorites of yours, have it booksmarked to remind me that even bad days have a silver lining.
Beth – this post is beautiful – it captures the pure essence of your day. I could feel the overwhelming urge to ‘get stuff done’ followed by the ‘oh crap, what am I going to do now’ and then the ‘are you serious’.
You turned each of those emotions into a treasured moment – good for you. Ariel is one lucky girl to be learning from you how to turn life’s tricks around.
such a beautiful memory. I hope you feel that way soon.
I really hope the girl got a new bike :O)
What a beautiful reminder to slow down. I needed that today.
Beautiful, wonderful post. I am so glad you reposted it since I fairly new here (I’m your American Idol recap regular now). Brilliant way to save a day and LOVE the title.
Like everyone else said, BEAUTIFUL post. What a wonderful way to make what could’ve been a bad morning a great one.
Hi there. I haven’t commented before. I am one of those silent readers that is so annoying. But I thought I would tell you that this story is beautiful. And so are your photos.