HFCS: effika’s blog

We have another update in the continuing saga of effika and the car keys (which prefer to stay in the car after locking the doors).

This morning I’d forgotten my Claritin. Those who prefer it know that unlike Allegra, you can’t really miss a dose and have residual coverage. I decided I’d come home for lunch and grab some then. I’d be suffering this morning at the county fair, but I’d be OK for the booster club tents I had to inspect later that afternoon. I did a quick check of the fair (we’d been there last night too) and practically set up a couple of people’s temporary food booths for them so I could license them and get out of there for lunch. When I got home, I decided to clean out my car a bit, since I would have passengers later. I parked near the dumpster and got rid of a bunch of stuff, grabbed my purse and my lunchbox, and headed upstairs.

I didn’t see my keys and cell phone on the seat where I’d left them, so I assumed I’d already stuffed them in my purse. Not so! My keys and cell phone had fallen down between the seat and the center console, and I had locked the door. Thoughts started racing through my head.

I’ll call a locksmith! NO, I have no phone!
I”ll use a neighbor’s phone to call a locksmith! All the familiar cars are gone!
I’ll call Jay. No phone!
I’ll take the bus to Jay! He’s probably at lunch, or will be by the time I get there.
I’ll walk to Jay! That will take even longer, and I certainly won’t get back in time for the staff meeting this afternoon.
How will I get back to my car? Shonia (a coworker) can drive me after we go to the football game.
Shonia could pick me up now… No phone to call her!
But I have to have a car by 4pm so that I can drive out of town to inspect the concessions at the big high school football game!

I slung my lunchbox over my chest and started hoofing it to the health department. It’s only 1.5 miles, and the weather was nice today. (The last time I walked to work it was 24ºF and we’d just had a blizzard take out the entire town.) Once at work, I called Jay. We had to work through several options (mainly how he would get back to campus) before deciding that he would use his lunch to take the bus home, grab my spare key, and drive to me. If he got to me with time left in my lunch I would drop him off, otherwise he would leave the keys with me and walk back to his work.

I ate my lunch while waiting (and discovered that I had left the bread for my sandwich in the car). Jay got me the keys but had to walk back to his job (about 1.5 miles from my work). I have told him that I will get him anything he wants for his birthday, as he is the best person ever for sacrificing his lunch so that I could have a car.

I think I am just going to have to wear my car key on a long (or elasticated) lanyard, such that it can be in the ignition and still on my body. Apparently if my car key leaves my body I will leave it locked in the car.