Monday, 19 May 2008

• They say you learn something new every day...

  Well, today I learned a whole host of things. Starting with, "Don’t lock your keys in your van when you live a half hour away from home and don’t own a cell phone."

  Of course, if you must lock your keys in your car, make sure you have a good companion along with you. This companion should be someone who will not pitch a fit and blame you for being stupid enough to forget your keys and then lock your door. If you are doing really good you’ll find someone who will help you twist clothes hangers into strange shapes in attempts to somehow open the door. The very best of companions will even go to a nearby store and buy a strange pointed stick that you just might be able fit through that crack in the back window and hit the electric lock button with.

  But, if all your hanger twisting, stick poking, and door prying doesn’t work – you can call the local police. They will come out and try to open your door for free. Their equipment is a little better than a hanger and a stick, and odds are they can get that door open in a jiffy. That is of course, only true if they aren’t called away to an emergency car accident a minute after they get there. It also only applies if you have an old car that does not re-lock itself as soon as you or the police manage to jimmy it open.

  If all else fails – call your husband. He can drive the half-hour to where you are stranded and bring you the spare key. If your husband is stuck at home watching a sleeping baby and you have currently locked the only car seat in your van – have your companion’s husband drive the half-hour to bring you the key. (This works especially well since someone else’s husband is much less likely to be annoyed with you than your own will.)

  While you are waiting for your keys to arrive, make friends with the local people passing through the parking lot. You will be surprised at how many people will offer to help – even though they are as clueless as you are! You will also be surprised to learn how many other people have done exactly the same thing. You can also take the time to thank the local store clerks for their generosity. (They will let you use their phone countless times, find hangers for you to mangle and even put your entire cart of groceries in their walk-in cooler so the cold stuff will not go bad while you wait.)

  Your day may not turn out the way you planned – but in the end you’ll be a little smarter.

  And you’ll have a great story to tell.

  • 4:57 PM
  • 57 Views
  • 6 eProps
  • 3 Comments