Going on an Adventure

We always used to say to our daughter whenever things went to catastrophe or disaster such as a flat tire, or running out of money, or getting lost in a road trip—we’re going on an adventure—meaning: we have no clue what’s going to happen next.

I guess nothing too bad because I’m still here.

But, the point being, putting things into a positive light in the middle of absolute internal/exterior chaos.

It was a way of buying time before freaking out in order to figure out our next step.

Sometimes there is no next step, but to let the natural order of chaos work itself out. Either way, whatever happens next, the entire ride is an adventure.

I had an adventure yesterday.

Sunday after being all cozy in the Tiny House I decided to go get groceries and stop at the library—and, why not?!, put the skies in the back of the Jeep to cross-country ski at the trails behind Aldis. I started the car and cleared the snow off the windshield etc then went to toss the little shovel thing into the back seat to discover the car was locked. I tried all four doors and the back hatch. I must’ve elbowed the auto lock switch getting out. So the Jeep is running in the driveway with no way to get into it.

I went inside my daughter’s house to ask about a second key.

We’re going on an adventure.

This wasn’t actually my first thought. My first thought was OH MY GOD. I wanted to melt into the floor. I could hear the car’s engine outside, the exhaust wisping out the tail pipe. No time for a breakdown.

We all got on our phones to figure things out—not something I had the luxury of in earlier crises or now, since my phone was locked in the car. Grace found a locksmith 4 minutes away while my son-in-law filed a claim with insurance and told her someone would be here in 50 minutes. I’m still stunned, let down by my stupidity.

Don’t be ridiculous, it could happen to anyone, they both said. I’m thinking, How much is this going to cost and WHY 50 minutes???

A guy got there in 10 and popped open the door in one second and was gone. Poof!

I re-cleared the car since, of course, snow continued to fall, and drove off.

But, I kept thinking back to those times when we had to mitigate a disaster by telling ourselves we were going on an adventure and how life never stops giving us adventures. We never know what’s going to happen next and there’s always going to be something—so why not make it an adventure.

 

P.S. I did ski and tomorrow I’ll write here about it and you can follow my adventure(s)