Still a Child

There are moments in your life when you realize how much you still depend on your parents.  Yesterday, I had one of those moments.  Jon and I were driving separate cars to work because I had a meeting after school.  Jon left to drop Abby off at Sue’s house and I was running late, of course, so I was probably traveling a bit fast on our dirt, ice covered road.  When I reached the 90 degree turn in the road, my car decided to go straight….right into a snowbank.  I tried to back up and surprise, surprise, I was stuck!  I opened the car door and put the car in Neutral to try to rock it out.  When I steeped outside the car to push, I shut the door and then quickly realized the car was locked, running, with my spare key inside.  In the words of Swiper the Fox….OH MAN!  I banged on the windows for no apparent reason.  No one was inside and I wasn’t honestly going to try to break the windows.  The only thing I could do was hike through the dark back home and call for help.  After almost falling a few times on the slippery road, I got back home and left Jon and Trisha a message saying I would be just a little late for work.  Then I called my Mom and Dad.  When Dad got on the phone, his first response was “Where are you.  I will be be right there.”  He rushed around trying to find everything he needed and Mom called me to let me know when he left.  She kept me company on the phone while I searched for a spare, spare key to no avail.  I decided to hike back down the road to try the huge handful of spare keys that I was sure didn’t fit the lock.  Dad met me partway through my walk and drove me back to my car.  Of course none of the keys worked so I said, “Should I call the tow truck?” and Dad said “not yet”.  He worked some magic with a screwdriver, paint stirrers, a hanger, and a metal yard stick.  After a short time of struggling to hit one of the buttons inside the car, we finally got the window down and got in!  He then yanked me out of the snow bank and followed me to the gas station to make sure I got my empty tank filled.  What a guy!  For those of you that ask why we would move up here from Grand Rapids, I have many reasons…the beautiful lakes and woods, the relaxed lifestyle, but the most important thing is family.  I am so lucky to have a wonderful family.  In my job I see many families who can’t exist together without conflict, if they are together at all.  I see kids who only have themselves to rely on and I give them so much credit.  I am fortunate to have parents who are still in my life after 29 years and I don’t tell them enough what it means to me.  Thanks Dad…you are still my hero!