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Friday, June 17, 2005
How To Qualify For Village Idiot
Yesterday I did a mediation. The situation had me so nervous that I locked myself out of the house. Crazy. I rushed around to get ready so I would arrive early with time to read the file. Then I thought, "Oh, dear, Porque will be home alone for a long time, I'd better take her for a good walk before I leave." I struggled the little mutt into her harness, and charged out the door. The instant I closed that door, I knew...I'd just locked myself out. There were no keys in my hand.
Frantic thinking like a scurrying rat, rushing around in my mind from option to option. Then I realized that Lydia has a key and she might still be at home. I grabbed Pork Chop and ran across the street to the construction site. Many times I've seen workers there talking on their cell phones. A man looked up and I said, "Yes, I know that this qualifies me for village idiot, but I've just locked myself out of my house. May I please borrow your cell phone?" He laughed and handed me the phone.
Lydia answered immediately and was at my house 5 minutes later opening the door. Happy, happy, joy, joy all around. Porkee did get her walk. I arrived at the mediation center a bit later than intended but it was OK. One of the mediatees was half an hour late.
In order not to maintain my standing as village idiot, I guess I'd better do what everyone else does and hide a key somewhere outside so if I lock myself out again, I can get back inside without calling for help. I bought a hollow plastic rock, but everyone knows about those things, so I suppose that's not the best idea. Must give the matter some thought.
Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 8:30 AM
Name:
Tessa
I was ALWAYS doing that when we lived in Worthing about thirty-five years ago! I lost count of the mumber of times I had to run down to my husband's office in the middle of the town to borrow his keys. When he moved office to Chichester, I hid a spare key in the back garden. Now, our front door is one of those which needs to be locked with a key when you leave the house. However, I have still managed to be locked out when my dear Hubby waved me off and I didn't realise I wasn't carrying my keys!
Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 8:46 AM
Name:
doubledog
The man who loaned me his phone said, "My wife just did that last week," and smirked as though the lock-out were a uniquely female complaint.
Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 1:39 PM
Name:
Tessa
I heard tell that my Dad did that before the war. My parents had been out to the opera and my Dad was climbing the drainpipe dressed in tails when a passing policeman stopped to ask what he thought he was doing!
Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 8:53 AM
Name:
doubledog
Three thoughts...
1) I can't imagine anyone climbing the aluminum drainspouts on buildings I've known here in America. In Britain a drainpipe must be an altogether more sturdy part of the building.
2) That's pretty darned athletic. Your father must have been extremely spry. Even if American downspouts supported human weight, I don't think many people would be able to climb up the pipe.
3) I'll bet that was a cherished, if funny, memory.
Monday, June 20, 2005 - 9:22 PM
Name:
Tessa
Well, I've been looking at old photos of the house and I must admit I can't see the drainpipe! I will have to ask one of my older sisters as it was probably at the side of the house and my father would have been trying to get in the front bedroom. I know that there was someone in the house looking after my sisters but it was nearly one o'clock in the morning and they were all in bed and didn't hear the door bell or the knocking! As for British drainpipes, the old fashioned ones were fairly sturdy and sometimes used by burglars.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 5:01 PM
Name:
doubledog
Once when we were young, my mother, sister, and I locked ourselves out of the house leaving something on the stove. My dad was out of town. No one we knew had a key to our house. My mother was terribly upset. What to do, what to do... My sister, my extremely athletic sister, took off her shoes and somehow managed to climb the side of the house up to a window open with a portable screen. Later, she was on the school gymnastic team and did very well, but climbing the side of the house stands out in my mind as her greatest feat.
About me locking myself out of this house, just today I finally hid a key outside somewhere. I hope no one else finds it, and I hope I remember where it is if I ever need it.
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