Blessings Abound

Today was the Wednesday when….

• The precious puppies got me up at 4 to be let out.  As they do most every day.  Except for the days when they get me up at 2.
• The girls were gotten up at 5:30 by their father for math class.  As they are most every day.  Which they hate love so very much.
• Megan was in her Great Books online classroom on time this week.  As she wasn’t last week because of time zone confusion.
• I managed, while she was in class, to coordinate both some school for the younger two, and also freshen up my hair color.  Which I am liking very much these days – digging the brunette.
• We all got ready and loaded in the van in time to stop at QT for some beverages on the way to taking Laurent to GCC, and thereafter driving up north to take the middlers to MoezArt.  On the way, everyone was having fun droning “Ohhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm” so they could listen and giggle at the involuntary vibrations in their voices that were being caused by some sort of rattle in the back end of the car.
• Jacob and I, after leaving the dramatic duo at their rehearsal, drove westward on Bell Road, Jacob chattering a mile-a-minute as he is ever wont to do, while I mused on what might be causing the rattle which seemed to get worse the closer I got to 40mph.
• We turned onto the on ramp for the 101, and as I accelerated so did the vibrations, to such an alarming degree that I knew I needed to get off A.S.A.P.  I turned on my hazard lights and kept my speed at a tentative 43, hugging the right shoulder and aiming for the next off ramp.
• Exiting on Thunderbird, I stayed to the right, and took the first right hand turn I could find, which plopped me right in the middle of an auto-collision-repair mall.  I thought, well, this might end up being serendipitous.
• I pulled into a parking spot, turned off the engine, and got out to see if there was anything visible hanging off the back end that could explain the terrible vibrations.
• I bent down to look at the back driver’s side tire, and discovered the problem.  The tread was completely separating from the tire.  There was still air in it, but the tread was almost gone.
• Like any good wife in dire straits, I called my husband at work.  He called me back in 2 minutes and told me there was a Discount Tire less than a mile east of where I was.
• I praised the Lord.
• Then I pulled out of the parking lot, hazards blinking, and found myself unable to turn east due to the median.  That meant I had to turn west, and figure out how to cross 3 lanes of traffic, get in the turning lane, and pull a U-turn, all at 20mph on a major thoroughfare.
• I got stressed just a little.
• We made it to Discount Tire.
• I was thankful a lot.
• We went inside to tell them the problem.
• I noticed, with great satisfaction, my awesome hair in the window as we approached the door, and was thankful I’d gotten that color in before having a car emergency.
• Jacob started having a bloody nose.
• He’s been having a lot of those lately.
• Thankfully it didn’t rain buckets o’ blood like it has done in the recent past.
• The tire man looked at all my tires.  A rough translation of what he said was, “Dude, these back two tires are like 5 years old.  You have dry rot!  It’s like totally time to change these tires.”
• I said, roughly: “Dude, gimme two new tires.”
• He said it would be a 75 minute wait.
• I said “Good thing we’re right next to Sprouts.”
• Bubby and I had ourselves a fun little date over at the Deli.  He ate a turkey sandwich, and got to spread his own mayo on his rye bread and everything.
• I ate his tomatoes and onions with my tabouli and 3bean salads.
• Yum.  I’m lovin’ the vegetarian thing these days.
• Went back an hour and a half later and got in the van and drove home and the tires were golden.  Loved now they didn’t vibrate even a little.
• Relaxed for a half hour and had Jacob read some history before suiting him up for karate.
• Drove him there, and had only 15 minutes to make it back up north to get the girls from their rehearsal.
• Made it in 22 minutes.
• Picked up Laurent from GCC.
• Went to the P.O. and found there was no mail.
• Went to QT for the second time today and got quick suppers for the younger kids.
• Picked up the boy from karate and he ate his lunchable and changed in the back of the van while I drove to church.
• Arrived about 15 minutes early for the 6:45 start time for RE.  The older girls had already headed over to the Life House for their Youth Group.
• Found the kids names on their teacher’s list and got seats in the front row.
• There were 300 chairs by my count.  By the time we were a few minutes into the opening exercises, I estimate that besides every chair being filled, there were at a minimum 150 people standing along the walls around the edge of the gym.
• Sr. Loreto sure knows how to keep a crowd in line… and never a raised voice, either. She’s just that good.
• Wandered the school grounds chatting with my mum on the phone while waiting for the children to finish the classroom portion of the evening.
• Was thrilled for them when they came out all bubbly, exuberant to have been reunited with their friends from last year, and also to have their beloved Mrs. Kotoor as teacher once again.
• Waited another half hour for the youth group to let out.
• Was yet again thrilled for them as they also came out effervescing over their friends, both old and new, and all the fun they had had together.
• Drove home with a thankful heart after a very blessed day.