HOT PURSUIT
Just in time for the holidays back in December, my family created its own version of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”
It all started in the middle of December when my mother and I helped my daughter move to a new place. We used my mother’s Chevy Equinox, and between my daughter and I, we played musical drivers until it was time for mom to go home.
During one of the musical rounds, I went from the back seat to the driver’s seat without my cell phone. Not a bad idea when I’m the one behind the wheel. The only problem was when mom took off for home, the cell phone stayed right where I left it in the back seat. It was dark and I had my hands full with a bunch of other things. I definitely wasn’t thinking about my phone. That’s until 10 minutes after mom left.
By now, I’m scrambling around the house thinking I may have placed it somewhere after getting out of the vehicle. No luck.
Ever think of tracking someone or something down when you have no means to communicate? I gave up my landline phone earlier in the year. And now I was living in complete silence, which, of course, is a blessing and a curse.
Oh, it gets even worse.
About three-quarters of the way home, my mom had the misfortune of smashing into a deer. It took out a good chunk of the front driver’s side and her airbag deployed. She had to get towed home and was left without wheels.
Of course, she immediately tried calling me to no avail because my phone was hiding in the back seat.
While the vehicle was totaled, my mom wasn’t hurt outside of some bruising from the airbag. However, I’m not sure her pride fared very well. And, with my dad passing away just a few months prior, it wasn’t the best timing for this calamity, which we tried to bring some light humor to by saying, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”
We rallied around mom and found her another vehicle just a few days before Christmas. We just had a feeling Santa wasn’t going to spring for a new vehicle. The good thing is she now has a newer vehicle (still a Chevy Equinox) with less miles.
After it was all over, we had a few chuckles about how the reindeer found grandma.
As for my phone, it finally got rescued from the tow yard a couple days later. I survived almost three days without a cell phone. I admit it was a little challenging to get work done without a phone, but it was quite peaceful. I think we all need to learn how to detox from being consumed by the cell phone.
We’re just hoping 2024 will allow our family to go in hot pursuit of some peace and quiet without the craziness that last year brought to us.