Never Wanting for Material

Walking in the office from Brandy's birthday lunch at the Olive Garden this afternoon (Happy Birthday, Brandy!), I started to hang up my purse on my cube wall when I noticed that I didn't have my keys in my hand.

I'm not going to lie, I freaked out a little, because I hadn't been anywhere since opening the door to CK Media besides my desk. Looking everywhere--inside my purse, three times; around the boxes that had been delivered in the meantime, four times; riffling through everything, everywhere in the vicinity of my space--it occurred to me that I may have locked my keys in the car.

Shiestokovich! I'm telling myself, knowing that they're locked inside because I remember locking the car door behind myself before shutting it. After emoting my stupidity to my co-workers Kelly, Susan, and Brandy, I walk out to the car thinking I can call Mark and ask him to drop by my office on his way home from work, a mere 2-mile detour, and open the car for me. No harm, no foul.

As I'm approaching the car, however, I start to detect a slight but audible purr of an engine. Noise from the freeway I check myself? Someone idling nearby I question?

As I get closer to my vehicle, I am shaken by the unthinkable reality that it is my enginethat is purring and I'm blasted simultaneously by the indisputable fact that I know the keys are locked in the car.

 A wave of incredulity hits me like my fingers in a socket as I'm forced to realize

A) that I could be that absent-minded to actually walk away from my car, lock it, and not have turned it off.

B) That I'm going to have to what? let it idle all afternoon until Mark comes to my rescue? or go through the incredible inconvenience of calling a locksmith to come to my rescue? Not entirely sure which scenario is worse, or

3) Face the fact that I really am that absent-minded, that I actually really did walk away from my car, locked it, and forgot to turn it off.

As I'm marinating in this new, ridiculous knowledge of myself and my current dilemma, I discover, with a quick glance at the driver's door that could it be?...the lock isn't locked.

A beam of light shined down upon me and the heavens opened up singing, "Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Al-le-lu-ia!"

Praise be to the manufacturers of my particular brand of car who deemed:  Thou shalt not be allowed to lock the car doors whilst the engine is running.

And just when I thought I had nothing to say today.

Comments

[Jennifer Hansen]

That's a hoot!

I've locked my keys in my car a number of times and once even climbed thru the back of my Escort hatchback in the 90's in order to get to the front (my trunk had a different lock).

[Melissa]

Ohhh....you goober :)---you are adorable. So happy to hear that I'm not the only one who gets a little preoccupied from time to time...or everyday for that matter. I ummmm...actually left my car running and in gear as I hopped out to run an errand....holy cow....had to race after it as it headed toward the most adorable picket fence :) I almost didn't tell my husband about that little incident...but since he picked ME of all people to love and cherish...I thought I'd add a little spice to his life, lol.
Melis

[Brandy J.]

Cath, look on the bright side. At least you realized your keys were gone moments after you left the car. I was with a friend when she left her car running. We spent the afternoon shopping only to return and realize the car had been on the whole time (luckily it was still there)!

[Kim Kesti]

Oh boy - it's that ole 40 hitting us in the face. My girlfriend did the same thing as Brandy's at the mall - left the car running (older model that WAS locked) and was too afraid to tell her husband until the darn car ran out of gas and finally sputtered to a stop. Too funny (not really). Hugs to you, Cath!

[Nicole]

First of all, I can't believe you didn't tell me this story yesterday, Mom. I was talking to you while you were typing this one up! Good thing I read your blog or I would have missed out on this morsel of a story. And second of all, who walks away from their car when it is still running and locks the door!?! You are a silly-busy momma.

[Cath]

Well, Nicole, I didn't tell anyone the story. I said to Mark, "Make sure you read my blog tonight so you can find out what happened to me today!"

Pretty funny! Now we're communicating in our house through the blog! LOL

[beth opel]

I didn't even know that happened yesterday! Whew! It just means you are focused on your work! :) Glad it wasn't a complete debacle.

[Becky Olsen]

Giggle!!

A beam of light shined down upon me and the heavens opened up singing, "Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Al-le-lu-ia!"

so perfect!

And loved that after such a lovely day yesterday the dog peed, that is so my house!
Dogs, gotta love 'em!

B-

[Anabelle]

Oh my, Miss Cath, that is one funny story! Totally sounds like something I would do. So glad that everything worked out for you!

[Diane DiTullio]

You are definitely a great storyteller! Glad things worked out ok on this one! I almost wanted to hear that the doors were locked just to see what you did next! LOL! :)

[Alice]

that is a riot...but a bit scary, because I can totally relate to the absent minded professor hiding inside myself...good thing this happened to you in Utah - I'm sure if you were out here in Boston the car would have been long gone :)

[Barbara Spencer]

Reminds me of the times when Mick and I were at a football game at the U, and it would be announced that a red blank, was parked in an illegal space, locked, with the motor running. Must have been afraid they'd miss the opening kickoff. I have locked the keys in my truck (kicked the lock button on the door) at Lynnleigh Farm and had to have the owner get it open for me, along with some funny comments. Ahh memories!!!!!

[Miss Pat]

I HAVE SO TOTALLY DONE THAT! WHEN MIKE WAS OUT OF TOWN!!!! You are SUCH a lucky dog!