Monday, December 12, 2011

A Good Story









When we came home to the south after an 8 1/2 year job  just a few miles from Lake Erie, we rented a home on our local marina.  It was great.  The marina pool was just beyond our back yard and the lake just a stones throw from there.  My kids were all toddlers at that time and we lived on a wonderful playground.

Later my son became a lifeguard at that marina and eventually worked at the docks fueling the boats.  He thrived there.  Now, they have dug up the pool and in it's place is a very large dry dock structure.  A week or two back, my son said, "I want the sign with the pool rules on it, I'm gonna go one night and get it." 

While I don't condone stealing, I too thought that it would be very cool to have that sign.  I decided to scope out the scene.  I went and snapped a photo thinking I might enlist some young employees in an effort to snag that sign.  I drove home thinking with the good wrestling with the bad. 

Finally I decided that I couldn't get those kids sent to the pokey over that sign so I went home, got two phillips screwdrivers and drove back. I could go a be the middle aged crazy lady and beg until they gave it to me to be rid of me.  I could offer to pay for it ( but I don't really want to because they might start thinking antique prices). 

I pull back in to the parking lot as iron workers are in those crane baskets and I walk towards the jobsite looking for someone low enough to the ground to speak to.  I finally see this foreman (I'm guessing) he is a tall fellow, with strawberry blonde curly hair, missing a few front teeth and tool belt weighing things down if you know what I mean.  And, in true nervous fashion, I started becoming a blithering idiot.  I give him my whole long family history, talking too fast and too much until he politely says, "Little lady, that is not mine to give away.  Go see Buddy, he owns the place."

I catch my breath while quietly scolding myself for rambling on and on.  I didn't find Buddy but I did find an employee.  I tell him what I want and he thinks for a moment.  In my mind I am thinking, oh crap, if I have to come back to lift the sign, I'll be the first suspect as I've gone begging to everyone on the place.  "Sure, he says, we've dug the pool up, I can't see why we'd need it." 

I wanted to do a happy dance on the spot.  But, instead I rushed up to unscrew it from the wall in case he changed his mind or someone else thought better of giving it away.  He ended up meeting me up there and helping me get it down.  This is gonna be the coolest gift under the tree.  Both of my girls were so excited. 

The Dad and I got to talking about it and have decided that we need a better story to tell him as to how we got the sign.  Something that he would totally be shocked at Mom for doing.  The memory and the story are half the fun.  It is that connection that we make that is one of the true gifts of Christmas. 

I must admit that it was a lot more fun and nerve racking than going to the mall.  I am thankful for this memory.  I am thankful that my son is home this year.  I pray for all of the obstacles that addiction place in our way.  I pray for all our sons and daughters, husbands and wives and I pray for the soul of Henry.

12 comments:

Dad and Mom said...

It starts like this....

You'll never believe how we got this sign. During an evening of partying and drunkenness.......

Annette said...

....and in her drunken partied up state of mind Mom took off her clothes for a quick skinny dip forgetting the pool was now a dry dock! I said, "Honey, look out...the pools gone." Just at that moment she screeched to a halt, grabbing onto something to stop herself from falling into what used to be the pool, and what do you know? She had grabbed onto that sign and pulled it right off the wall...

Dad and Mom said...

..... and as I was holding the sign we began to notice lights flicking on one by one. The sound of dogs barking got louder and more frequent. Just as I ducked behind the only bush that hadn't been removed I spied my clothes still lying on the ground in the open. The first cop car sped by........

beachteacher said...

you guys are quite the comedy duo ! :)

Great story...love that you got the sign. ENJOY your son and your holiday !! :)

Annette said...

...I quickly came to my senses as the chilly night air swirled around my goose bumped flesh and I became astutely aware of the mess I had gotten us into. Since dad was still fully clothed I told him to "Quick, be my decoy! Distract the cops while I grab my clothes." He casually walked out to greet the officers while I made a dash for my clothes. Just when I thought I was home free... the officer, totally ignoring dad, circled his car spotlight around and shined it right on me, exposing all of my glory!

Lou said...

Right behind the police, the three local news channel trucks had their mega cameras sending a live feed to the evening news. The veterinary clients sit watching, clutching Fido, and calling out "honey, get in here quick, you have got to see this." Your neighbor is posting it on YouTube as I write.

Annette said...

And there I stood, naked, with camera flash bulbs flashing and spot lights shining, smiling nervously and holding *the sign* up in front of me trying desperately to preserve some shred of my dignity....

Ron your on...

Dad and Mom said...

...... To make a long story short, the YouTube video now has over a two million hits worldwide. Your dad and I are flying out tomorrow to New York for an interview live on Good Morning America. I have been officially know n the internet as "naked lady with a sign". Go ahead you can Google me.

Son, Merry Christmas here is your sign.

Hattie Heaton said...

I love it!!! You guys are great! I'm actually gonna print this off to read to him. You've just made my day!

Bar L. said...

GOOD THING I swallowed my sip of coffee BEFORE I READ THIS OR IT WOULD BE ALL OVER THE SCREEN! Laughed myself silly. Hattie, isn't it great to have fun blog friends who can make up great stories.

Have Myelin? said...

Guys, you left out the part about her dropping the sign, bending over to retrieve it, thus showing the news media her very exposed rear end!

My, did the light bulbs start flashing!

Brown Eyed Girl said...

I am a recovering addict, married to a recently recovering addict, and my biggest fear is that I may someday have to deal with my child becoming an addict. Thank-you for your inspiring words!