Happy Veterans Day

First of all, thank you to my husband and all the men and women who serve with him or have served our nation. Because of the last few years I better understand the sacrifices service requires and appreciate even more those who voluntarily make the choice to give of themselves so deeply.


On a very different note, I have a story to tell today. Funny story--true story--

As it is Veteran's Day, most places around were closed today, but I felt the urge to get out of the house. I thought the Java Cafe would be open, and the idea of a chai latte was very appealing on this cold and dreary afternoon. Having made up my mind, I began preparations to leave the house:


1. Find shoes and put them on--check.
2. Feed the baby--check.
3. Change the baby--check.
4. Make sure the baby is appropriately attired for outdoors--check.
5. Remove the toilet paper roll from the dispenser in the bathroom so Chokydar won't eat it while we're gone (this is learned from experience)--check.
6. Make sure wallet is actually in purse and location of keys verified--check.
7. Put baby in carrier and strap in--check.
8. Grab spitty cloth--check.
9. Get a treat for Chokydar so that she will willingly go into bathroom while we are gone--check.
10. Put Choky in the bathroom--check.
11. Carrying baby, leave the house & lock the door--check.

All of this for a 48 second drive 3 blocks away to get a chai. Please don't judge--sometimes it's the little things in life that can get you through a rainy day.

I've got Evie secured in the back seat and plop myself in up front, key in the ignition and....

Nothing. Well, not exactly nothing, more like vvrrrclickvvrrrclickvrrrclickvrrrclickvrrrclickvvvr.

Maybe it was a fluke...

vvrrrclickvvrrrclickvrrrclickvrrrclickvrrrclickvvvr

Nope. No fluke. The car won't start. Joy.

vvrrrclickvvrrrclickvrrrclickvrrrclickvrrrclickvvvr

Okay, just checking...

Dreams of chai dashed, I get back out of the car, go back around and get Evie out (who is rather amused at this new game of pretending to go for a drive) and go back inside, where Chokydar greets me as if I've been gone for weeks.

I called the German repair guy, as the only on-post auto service place requires prescience and only sees those who have booked weeks in advance. The car will be towed tomorrow morning. I'm thinking it's the starter, and hope that it isn't too complicated or expensive to set straight.

I can't help but be grateful that this happened on a day when the only thing at stake was a latte and we were at home rather than, oh say, at the commissary with a car full of groceries or 45 minutes away somewhere.