Thursday, December 06, 2007

SOMETIMES IT IS DOWNRIGHT SCARY BEING ME!
Thursday, December 6, 2007 - 1:28 AM

Okay, so I'm about to tell you the stupidest, well, most absent-minded, anyway, thing I've ever done. In my life! And I did it TODAY! Why swallow my pride and tell the world, you ask? No reason, really, except that I do so love to make people laugh, even at my expense. So here goes!

Five of us girlfriends did our annual Christmas thingie today, celebrated the birth of our Lord by spending money, eating at Reds on the River in Rockford, Michigan, and exchanging gifts. We "bonded" by first stuffing ourselves with delectable food, sharing desserts, tearing into our gifts, then freezing our toes off on the icy sidewalks, as we ran from shop to shop, doling out money just about everywhere we went.

Our day started at 9:30 a.m. and ended at 5:30, and in a nutshell it was a superb day with giggly friends.We met at our church this morning, parked our cars, and all piled into one vehicle, Terri's, in case you want the name. (grins)

On the hour-long trip back to the church, we chatted some more (girls never finish talking), and covered everything from Hollywood hotties to war and peace and grandchildren, and then I don't remember because I napped the last 10 miles of the trip.

Back at the church, everyone started piling out. I started rifling through my purse for my keys. My keys. Where are my keys? "I can't find my keys, you guys." Search, search. Search some more. Get nervous. Did I leave my keys in the car all day? Dumb, dumb, dumb. Did I drop them? Did I give them to a homeless person? "Anyone seen my keys?" Try to imagine a bunch of women all looking for the right shopping bags. You guessed it. No one cared about my lost keys. They only cared about finding their millions of packages in the back of the van.

I got out, feeling dejected.

"Hey, Shar, your car's running!" This from Becky.

"Huh?"

"Your car. It's running."

"My car is running? Oh! NO! I left my car running? ALL STINKIN' DAY?"

"Oh, Shar, this is why I love hanging out with you," Bec said, giggling. Her eyes always disappear when she laughs hard. I don't know where they go, but they crinkle up into nothingness. "You give me so many reasons to laugh." She was holding her stomach.

Thanks. I think.

We stood there in Michigan's frozen air and laughed our heads off. "Is there any gas left?" someone thought to ask.

I ran to check. (I filled my tank yesterday.) It still registered FULL! Can you believe it?

I guess it doesn't take as much gas as you'd think to let your car idle for 8 hours.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh Shar.... you are *truly* precious!!!! just reading this makes me want to row on over to Michigan just to give you the squeeeeeeeziest of hugs!!!!!! how absolutely, disarmingly cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::))))

maria!!!

Rich and Darcie said...

Shar - that is hilarious. I'm sure you were just so excited about shopping with your wonderful friends, that you just forgot.

That is nice to know that it doesn't take as much gas as we all assumed to leave the car on idle.

Thanks for sharing...it is always nice to see we're all just forgetful sometimes.

Darcie

Anonymous said...

That's why I love you! That's seriously the best story I've heard in a long time!

Gwen Jackson said...

Oh my word, Shar! This is the greatest story and thanks for being vulnerable enough to share it with the world. You know this story is going to go around more than once, don't you? It's just too good.

Unknown said...

This confirms it...God TOTALLY had a hand in putting you and my mom together as good friends. Peas in a pod...Peas in a Pod. You should name your small group PNP just for that!
Love you Shar! Leesa Rycenga-Woodbery

Greta said...

Oh Shar, I laughed so hard I almost cried and then I laughed some more. At least your car was still there. Thank goodness for good old Spring Lake. And I like the PNP that someone else mentioned. Ladies getting together can be like that.

Beverly Centellas said...

that was fun reading, Shar. It's hard to believe that something didn't happen to the engine or gas line or something!
thanks for sharing that. we will be in Michgian from Jan 22 - 31. Would love to hear from you!

Anonymous said...

Oh, my. I litterally laughed out loud. This is the first time I have read your blog. Thanks for the laugh :)
Kristi Boomgaard

SHARLENE said...

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. Can you believe my absent-minded self????? Oh me, oh my! This getting-old business is not a fun stage--although I'm afraid I can't blame my 'ditziness' all on age. For the most part, I've been known for this type of behavior since I was a kid.

Love and Hugs,
Shar

The Mihalek's said...

Oh Shar! You are too funny! Nate and I laughed so hard when we read this. Only you Shar! Did you learn a valuable lesson? It's nice to know that you can leave a car running all day and still have gas!

Thanks for sharing your story! It's a nice way to start off the day with a smile and a sore stomach from laughing so hard!