The Days After

Thanksgiving day went wonderfully; two dinners at two homes. The early meal (1:30) was at the youngest brother-in-laws, lots of family there from hubbys side of the family and sis-in-laws brother and wife. All went well. It was the first time to their new home and the remodel is in full swing. It's one of the oldest homes in their little town and has great potential. The work they've done looks real good too!
Dinner #2 was at the eldest daughters' home. She insisted on making dinner, so I helped where necessary. Everything went well there too! I think the Wednesday evening prep was a challenge though. . . . . . .

The story goes . . . . .


I better start with last weekend . . . . .

Youngest daughter, still at home, let's call her R had a challenging weekend. I believe it started Friday evening.
She and her friend of 4 years, a male friend, we'll call him J Eldon, wanted to go out. It was blizzarding. They traversed the 3 miles to middle sisters apartment to watch movies. That was all the farther I would let them go. They arrived back here around 9 p.m. I asked if R was going to take J. Eldon home. It was blizzarding, she said, "You drive him." Needless to say, he spent the night in the spare room.
Saturday morning she was driving him home before she headed to work. She made dropped him off and made it half way to work when . . .

her brakes failed at the intersection. The god's were with her, the light turned green, she coasted through the intersection, into a parking lot and drove in circles until the Exploder slowed down enough to roll into a snowbank. She called from a convenience store. I picked her up and took her to work. She called when she was done and T and I picked her up and retrieved the Exploder.
On Sunday R took my car to her second job. We lost power in the afternoon so I called her to remind her to be careful driving through the intersection in town. She stopped at big sisters house on her way home for dinner and called to check in. By then, the power was back on. Ten minutes later big sister called and said, "Mom, the brakes went out on your car."
Poor R, two vehicles, two sets of brakes in two days! Momma freaked.
T bought parts and fixed, bought more parts and fixed and bought more parts and fixed! (He's magic you know.)
Ok, all went well for a few days until Wednesday. R asked to borrow my car again. She and J. Eldon were going holiday visiting and my car is more reliable. I said OK. We swapped vehicles. I drove the Exploder home from work. I loaded it full of groceries to take to eldests home to prep for Turkey day (thank goodness she lives only 10 miles from us.) A mile and a half from home, in front of one of the dining establishements, the drivers side rear wheel fell off the Exploder!!!
Yup, wheel fell off, O F F, off. Like someone missed lug nut day at school.
I calmly exited the vehicle, looked at where the wheel was, yup is was gone. Went into the bar and called eldest. Very calmly I said, "Come get me, I'm at the Brown Trout, the wheel fell off the Exploder."
Within 10 minutes my rescue crew arrived. T had just arrived home from work and got the call from eldest; and eldest and her hubby arrived to re-install the wheel and brake drum that had rolled across the road and back home the Exploder went. I loaded into eldests Blazer with groceries and went over to drink and Smirnoff and make pie crusts. Girls chopped veggies for salad and dressing and I rode home with R in MY car.
And yet, there's more . . .
Yesterday was one of the largest craft shows in northern Michigan. Eldest, R, mom and me had our first booth there. Unloaded displays and wares at 7 a.m., set up and ready to sell by 10 a.m., tear down at 4 p.m. We had an eclectic bunch of stuff--ornaments, baby knits, lamps, candles, woodworking--and we barely covered the entry fee! We heard the same from many crafters. For a first time this could be a real deterent; but I think we'll try another one next weekend!
In the mean time, R is still driving my car and I ache all over from loading, unloading, sitting, loading and unloading craft show stuff. I finally took a couple anti-inflamatories this morning and am lazing around for a while. Next I will eat something for breakfast, then shower--that will complete my list for the day. Anything else I do will be above and beyond my goal!