I just don’t learn my lesson.  I tend to make the same mistakes over and over again.  How about you?  Do you learn or do you have to repeat the process until you get it right?  Sigh….

I also am able to laugh at myself… can you?  Seriously – it just isn’t worth it to get all high and mighty about your mistakes.  Sometimes it takes me a little longer to laugh, but MOST of the time I get there.  Of course, it depends on how serious the mistake actually is as to how soon or how much laughter can be attributed to the situation.

 

I am and always have been a very busy person.  I am busy about being busy.  And should life bring busyness to me, I embrace it, organize it, categorize it, calendarize it – you name I “ize” it!  I love to be busy.  That’s ok … except that life is supposed to be balanced and when busyness takes over… sometimes my life balance gets out of whack.  What happens then is I make mistakes.  Mistakes I would not ordinarily make.

 

I am directionally challenged.

I grew up in the city – I have NO IDEA where north is!  I know where the gas station on the corner is.  So – I struggle with directions and finding my way around “things”.  A prime example is an elevator in a hotel.  I will consistently get off the elevator and turn the wrong way to head to my room.  The joke is … let mom off the elevator first and see where she takes us.  I don’t have to be “busy” to make this mistake – I make this mistake all day long!

The mistakes I am talking about are things that are familiar to me.  Things I do on an everyday basis- kind of in my sleep.  Things I would recognize without opening my eyes so to speak.  These are the kinds of mistakes I make when I am too busy at something.

 

I have told this story lots of times….

Many years ago, when we had three small children, I was a very busy Pastor’s wife.  It was Christmas and the children had their “program” at church that evening.  We had been running around doing busy stuff prior to the time we needed to be at church, when I suddenly remembered I was supposed to bring some kind of punch for after the program.Let me add – we were running late – not a big surprise.   This is a mistake I don’t usually make.  I would have bought this item well prior to the event, if I had not been too busy.

So the hubster dropped me off at the front door of our local supermarket while he and the three kids stayed in the car. He would watch for me and swing back to pick me up when I came out.  Normally – what happens at this point, in my family, is that the driver then hides in the parking lot.  And the occupants of the car watch to see if the shopper can find the car…. I am not kidding.  We do this all the time – one time,not too long ago, we drove into a 7/11 so one of my adult kids could go to the bathroom and we drove off and left her there.  This is a common trick in my household.  Try it sometime – it is really funny to everyone……IN THE CAR!!

 

Back to the story

 

I scurry through the store and grab what I need, pay and head out the front door.  Thank goodness, my DH realized the urgency of time and did not hide this time. As I came out the door I saw the family van  pulling up to let me jump so we could speed to the church.  Seriously – it is not good when the Pastor and his family is late.

I jumped in the van, put my bags down and looked up to grab my seat belt and who did I see sitting in the drivers seat?   Not my husband.  Confused – I turned around and someone  else’s children were in the back seat! First thought?  What are these people doing in my car??? What in the world had I done?  OMGEEEEE I was in the wrong van!!!

Needless to say, the gentleman in that van had no idea what to do and no idea what to say – so I said it all.

 

“Well you are not my husband, and this is not my van!  I am so sorry but I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!”  And got out as fast as I had gotten in. Thank goodness I had not buckled up yet!

 

Unreal….

Of course – my hubby and children- who were hiding in the parking lot – were watching this entire event unfold right before their eyes!  The laughter in THAT  van was uncontrollable.  As he pulled up to pick me up – I climbed in and just joined in the laughter.  At myself.  Good grief -who is so busy that they get in the wrong vehicle???

ME!

 

Today- I had some errands to run and went to Walmart.  I always make note of where I park, so that I don’t have to use the panic button on my key fob to find my car.  Yes – I am that old lady…. I noted that I had parked in the lane with the flag pole.  As I left the store, I found the flag pole and proceeded down the parking lot lane.  I pushed my unlock button as I walked thinking about the rest of the day and the items I needed to check off my list before my hubby got home from work.  I jumped in the car and closed the door. Something caught my eye – and I looked up and saw a rosary hanging from the rear view mirror.  What?  When did my husband get that (I was in his car)? I mean, we are Protestant! Then it struck me…. I looked in the passenger seat to see a folder of insurance information.  Nope not mine – I left a pair of sandals in my passenger seat.  Really – I did it again??? Holy cow – how do I get out of this one??

 

I did a quick look around to see if anyone was close by in the parking lot – jumped out of the car and three cars down I found mine!  I never looked back.  I have no idea what kind of car that was. I have no idea if anyone saw me get in one car, exit and then get in a second car.  I just had to get out of that parking lot!
Fortunately, repeating this kind of mistake is not the end of the world – and I laughed all the way to the parking lot entrance.

 

Word to the wise -if you drive a grey compact car – don’t leave it unlocked in a parking lot – you may find me trying to drive it away – because some lessons I just don’t learn!