This afternoon, I ventured to Wal-mart for a few "necessities," you know milk, veg oil, the must haves. Luke requested that I look for a wheelbarrow. Since he's always making trips by the grocery store on his way home from work, I was glad to help him out.
So, I get in our Honda Accord and off I go (I try to ditch the mini-van as often as possible). Upon arrival, I snag a sweet park (that's NC speak for parking spot for those of you who don't know), right by the entrance. I quickly grab a buggy (that's Arkansas speak for cart for those of you who don't know) and immediately notice my poor choice in buggy selection. Why do I always pick the ones with a mis-alignment? I think it's God's way of building up my biceps, since he sees how often I'm hitting the gym.
Anyhoots, 1st order of business: wheelbarrow locating. I storm the garden section only to find that I must circle back out of the store, via the garden entrance, and check out the wheelbarrows that just happen to be right beside the door I first went in. Great! I'll take the $40 one, check! Then I say to myself, "Self, I can either ditch the mis-aligned cart and push the rest of my purchases through Wal-mart in a stylish wheelbarrow, or I can collect said purchases and pay in the garden center, collecting the wheelbarrow upon exit."
I chose the second option since:
A) It would gain fewer "looks."
B) I'm not real skilled with wheelbarrows and I tend to tip them easily, spilling all of their contents.
I grab the few items I need and head off to get the much needed wheelbarrow. After another trip all the way back outside, then back in (to get the wheelbarrow unlocked and then take it BACK to the cashier) I pay for my things and head out to the car. This time, I did put my stuff in the wheelbarrow and push it to the car. I did get a few looks, but it was fun.
Alright, next task, load the wheelbarrow into the car. As I begin the process of figuring out the best way to load an oversized item into a 4 door sedan, a gentleman pulls into the park next to me. He graciously offers to help me, and since I don't have my kids with me, and I know this could be an ordeal, I accept the help.
For 10-15 minutes this gentleman and I try to smash, shove and manipulate this wheelbarrow into the trunk and/or backseat of the car. Finally, we give up. I thank the nice man, and he continues on his way into Wal-mart.
I call Luke, who has our kids in the bathtub, and tell him my dilemma. He tells me to return the wheelbarrow and we'll drop by later and re-buy it.
Sure thing. I re-situate the wheelbarrow to push it back into the store, and another gentleman walks by with his wife. He too offers to help me. I tell him I've already tried once, but if he wants to give it a go, why not? For the next 10 minutes, he and I, along with his wife, attempt to cram, shove and force a much too large wheelbarrow into our car.
No luck. Finally, his wife suggests that I roll down the back windows and maybe we can get an added angle. Great idea! I put the key in the ignition, roll down the power window, but still no luck. With that, I'm determined to return this stupid thing. I roll up the window, lock the car doors and walk to the still open trunk of the car. Then, it hits me.
THE KEYS ARE STILL IN THE IGNITION!!! Oh my word. Now, I'm stuck with an oversized wheelbarrow, no keys to the car and a kind stranger who's patience, I fear, are wearing thin! I call Luke once more. This time, the kids are really going. I think I overhear him saying, "Lucas, get back in the bathtub. Bad Boy!"
During our conversation, the kind stranger somehow unlatches the back seat from the trunk. At this point, this kind, kind man is climbing through the trunk, over the backseat and toward the front of my car.
Seriously, this guy was all in. He wasn't a "big" guy, but he wasn't a shrimp either and his legs are sticking out the trunk of my car like a breech baby coming out all wrong. It was really hysterical. After unlocking my car, regaining my keys and climbing back out. He finally secures the wheelbarrow with the only tie down I could find, a retractable dog leash. I drive 15 mph all the way home and thank God for my wheelbarrow full of strangers. I know I won't forget the kindness of strangers each and every time we use it. Thanks God!
Hope Luke likes the wheelbarrow...
So, I get in our Honda Accord and off I go (I try to ditch the mini-van as often as possible). Upon arrival, I snag a sweet park (that's NC speak for parking spot for those of you who don't know), right by the entrance. I quickly grab a buggy (that's Arkansas speak for cart for those of you who don't know) and immediately notice my poor choice in buggy selection. Why do I always pick the ones with a mis-alignment? I think it's God's way of building up my biceps, since he sees how often I'm hitting the gym.
Anyhoots, 1st order of business: wheelbarrow locating. I storm the garden section only to find that I must circle back out of the store, via the garden entrance, and check out the wheelbarrows that just happen to be right beside the door I first went in. Great! I'll take the $40 one, check! Then I say to myself, "Self, I can either ditch the mis-aligned cart and push the rest of my purchases through Wal-mart in a stylish wheelbarrow, or I can collect said purchases and pay in the garden center, collecting the wheelbarrow upon exit."
I chose the second option since:
A) It would gain fewer "looks."
B) I'm not real skilled with wheelbarrows and I tend to tip them easily, spilling all of their contents.
I grab the few items I need and head off to get the much needed wheelbarrow. After another trip all the way back outside, then back in (to get the wheelbarrow unlocked and then take it BACK to the cashier) I pay for my things and head out to the car. This time, I did put my stuff in the wheelbarrow and push it to the car. I did get a few looks, but it was fun.
Alright, next task, load the wheelbarrow into the car. As I begin the process of figuring out the best way to load an oversized item into a 4 door sedan, a gentleman pulls into the park next to me. He graciously offers to help me, and since I don't have my kids with me, and I know this could be an ordeal, I accept the help.
For 10-15 minutes this gentleman and I try to smash, shove and manipulate this wheelbarrow into the trunk and/or backseat of the car. Finally, we give up. I thank the nice man, and he continues on his way into Wal-mart.
I call Luke, who has our kids in the bathtub, and tell him my dilemma. He tells me to return the wheelbarrow and we'll drop by later and re-buy it.
Sure thing. I re-situate the wheelbarrow to push it back into the store, and another gentleman walks by with his wife. He too offers to help me. I tell him I've already tried once, but if he wants to give it a go, why not? For the next 10 minutes, he and I, along with his wife, attempt to cram, shove and force a much too large wheelbarrow into our car.
No luck. Finally, his wife suggests that I roll down the back windows and maybe we can get an added angle. Great idea! I put the key in the ignition, roll down the power window, but still no luck. With that, I'm determined to return this stupid thing. I roll up the window, lock the car doors and walk to the still open trunk of the car. Then, it hits me.
THE KEYS ARE STILL IN THE IGNITION!!! Oh my word. Now, I'm stuck with an oversized wheelbarrow, no keys to the car and a kind stranger who's patience, I fear, are wearing thin! I call Luke once more. This time, the kids are really going. I think I overhear him saying, "Lucas, get back in the bathtub. Bad Boy!"
During our conversation, the kind stranger somehow unlatches the back seat from the trunk. At this point, this kind, kind man is climbing through the trunk, over the backseat and toward the front of my car.
Seriously, this guy was all in. He wasn't a "big" guy, but he wasn't a shrimp either and his legs are sticking out the trunk of my car like a breech baby coming out all wrong. It was really hysterical. After unlocking my car, regaining my keys and climbing back out. He finally secures the wheelbarrow with the only tie down I could find, a retractable dog leash. I drive 15 mph all the way home and thank God for my wheelbarrow full of strangers. I know I won't forget the kindness of strangers each and every time we use it. Thanks God!
Hope Luke likes the wheelbarrow...