I locked my keys in the van on Friday.
I was in town with Kaitlyn, Lydia and Bethany, running evening errands. We were waiting for hubby to finish working some late hours on a report, and we decided to stop in at Cavender’s Boot City. Our Christmas gift to Natalie was a new pair of shoes – anything she wanted. She chose boots, so I was in search of boots. They were surprisingly hard to find, given that we are in Texas. You’d think sneakers would be hard to find, not boots. I was surprised that this required a special trip to a boot store, but here we were.
After a good bit of looking, I settled on a reasonably priced pair in her size. Lydia wanted to use some of her savings to buy boots as well, but we really didn’t have time to stop and consider. I told her to think it over a bit before she made a decision, and we headed for the checkout. Kaitlyn asked for the van key so she could take the baby out ahead of time, and then it hit me. Even before I looked in my purse, I knew just where the keys were.
In the van. The locked van.
Out of sheer reflex, I began to root through my purse, never expecting to find a key. I was right. A cashier asked if I was ready to go, and I gave a weak grin. “Yes, but I don’t think I’ll be leaving soon. My keys are locked in my van.”
“Would you like me to call roadside assistance for you?” the young cowboy behind the counter asked. I didn’t have roadside assistance and told him so. I resigned myself out loud to paying for a locksmith. “But I have roadside assistance,” he assured me, “and they say it’s good for anyone I’m with. I don’t even know why it’s on my account – just found out 2 days ago, but I left it on so I could help out if a friend needed it. I’ll call for you.”
The wait began. Not long into it, we began to worry about the state of Bethany’s diaper. She was long past due for a change and beginning to smell suspicious. Remember my emergency diaper stash? Empty. Gulp. While I wondered whether to get worried, and what to do if I did decide to worry, Kaitlyn chatted with a stranger. The woman had a cute little toddler who was picking out her first pair of cowgirl boots and admiring Bethany. As they wandered off, I voiced my concern to Kaitlyn. “Ask her, Mom. She said she has a 9 month old baby. She probably has small diapers in her car.”
I was feeling shy and reluctant, but I knew it was a great idea. I quietly stalked the poor woman and her child, trying to look casual and un-stalker-like while I rehearsed what I would say. And also stalled. Yes, I admit it. I was stalling. I’m a stalling stalker, a stalking staller. I’m shy, for pete’s sake! You can’t tell here when I’m running my mouth posting about our facinating life day in and day out, but anyone who has met me in person will tell you that my fingers talk a lot more than my mouth.
And so I stalked her. I finally made eye contact as she checked out, and blurted it out: “I have to ask you something really awkward. My-keys-and-diaper-bag-are-locked-in-my-car-and-my-baby-really-REALLY-needs-a-change-and-you-told-my-daughter-that-you-have-a-young-baby.” As I paused for breath, she smiled and offered a diaper. So did the 25yo clerk behind the counter. Then they asked if I needed anything else – wipes, formula, anything at all? At this point, I probably should have asked if they had a key that would fit my van, but I just wasn’t thinking. I always do things the hard way.
I changed the baby. We browsed. We checked the time. We browsed. Lydia found that she had plenty of time to consider her potential purchase, and she used some savings to buy boots. I nursed the baby. We browsed. Our cowboy Samaritan apologized for the delay, and I assured him that he was doing us a great favor and we had time to kill. We browsed. We oohed and aaahed over the manly miniature cowboy belts and I suddenly remember that I still had Perry Boy’s birthday money from Great Grandpa and Great Grandma in my purse, 7 months after his birthday. I was waiting until I came across something that he would really love. Well, Perry Boy had cowboy boots, a real leather cowboy vest, and a cowboy hat. He even has a wooden horse, but not a single belt. Now he does. Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa.
After a two hour wait, my van was unlocked. It was a long wait, but it was worth it.
My boy has a belt, and he loves it. He wears it every day, and he sometimes sleeps with it. Not wearing it, but holding it. Snuggling, maybe. I don’t know.
He has a belt. Now he’s a real cowboy.
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looks like God gave you many blessings on this trip to town! Isn’t God always good?
Aww! What a cutie. Definitely worth the wait.
Wow, that really is the finishing touch!
That post made my day. This is what makes life fun! Thanks for sharing!
~Tiffany
Darling pic of the little guy!
When my oldest was 6 months old, my mom & I had run out for some shopping and gotten a quick bite to eat. I realized I’d forgotten the diaper bag. Mom said, “oh it’s just a few minutes, I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Wrong. MAJOR Number 2 in the diaper, stinking to high heaven! I saw a family with a little girl about DS’s age, swallowed my pride, and asked for a diaper and some wipes. They were happy to help, thank goodness.
I have never left home without a diaper bag (when I have one in diapers) ever again.
Oh, and guess what? I’ve been able to return the favor a few times, to families who have forgotten diapers/wipes!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Been there. Done that! Enjoyed your post immensely! Your cowboy is Too Cute!
Perry COWboy looks so ready to wrestle up some Texas Longhorns! He looks like he is feeling better. He is sooo cute!
I have locked my keys in my car before, it’s not fun. But God always has a plan, doesn’t He?!
Is there anything cuter than a little manly cowboy and his pop gun?
My boy sleeps with weird junk too. My favorite so far has been a die cast John Deere tractor we picked up at the county fair this year. It’s gotta hurt. “When I was a kid” we slept with good old fashioned stuffed animals.
Is this ever cute.
When my children were little I had to ask to borrow a diaper and I had moms ask me as well. I think we’re always willing to help one another out!
I have locked my keys in the car more than once. One time, my then-four year old locked he and I out of the car, leaving his baby brother asleep inside. That was scary!
You totally made my day! I’m down with the flu, and feeling miserable. Was checking blogs, read yours, and started laughing my head off! Another girl down the hall came to check on me. I showed her, and she started laughing too. She asked, “Is that the potty training one?” (’cause I read her the potty training Perry post from a while ago). Yup!
You’re providing entertainment for my dorm — thanks!
I have totally asked a random stranger for a diaper before! You are not alone! Until we have the cowboy boots, our boys are wearing their rubber boots around with the pop guns!
I’m sorry but the roadside assistance was not God’s blessing. What you did was stealing. When the company says that roadside assistance is good for anyone you’re with, they mean who you are in the car with. They don’t mean someone you meet in a store. You deceived the company and you stole from them. You should have told the man that you were not going to lie and say he was with you because both lying and stealing are wrong.
Actually, I think you are mistaken. The way it was explained to him, the service is good for anyone you are with. I signed up for the same service with the same carrier afterwards, and was told that the service went with the phone: If I have my phone, I can call for any vehicle and any driver, and if I lend my phone to anyone they are then qualified to call for assistance whether or not I’m with them. Either way, I think we were definitely within the guidelines.