Career Day

I am scheduled to go to my daughter's school tomorrow and talk about freelance writing. All day long. From kindergarten through fifth grade. What was I thinking when I signed up for this? Oh, boy. I actually agreed to be a back-up, but as luck would have it, it didn't work out that way. They put me in the roster from the get-go. It'll be good experience, though. If nothing else, it will be an adventure of sorts. Speaking of adventures, I almost forgot about the one I had the other day...

I bought this large bookshelf from Salvation Army last week. I dutifully brought my tape measure to the store and made sure the shelf would fit in the back of my Rendezvous. My mom accompanied me, either for support or a good laugh. I think I nearly gave her a heart attack instead. So, the shelf did not fit in the SUV wannabe. I measured the inside of the car but not mouth of the hatch and the opening was roughly half an inch shy of four feet wide. And yes, the bookshelf is exactly four feet wide. No way, no how was this shelf going in that vehicle.

We set our eyes upon the luggage rack atop the car. Well, we thought, we brought three small bungee cords ... We had to drag this six-foot by four-foot monster through the store and out the door by ourselves (more about this later), and I was not about to leave the store without the shelf. A lady who had been watching us struggle with our dilemma decided to lend her man to us, you know, for brute strength purposes. The man and I hoisted this thing on top of my car; it straddled the luggage rack and took the entire length of the roof. I scrounged through the trunk compartments and found an adjustable tether. My mom and I used it and the wimpy bungee cords to strap the shelf to the inside handles of the car. And then we drove down 20 miles per hour down Grand River, detoured by Lake Chemung, came round by Latson by way of Golf Club, and ended at her house, where thankfully, my dad was able to better secure the load.

"I can't believe you did that," Mom said. See, I'm still a little unpredictable...