Wednesday morning I was supposed to play tennis at the South Hampton Princess at 8:30. I hustled the kids and Paul out of the house and rushed to get ready myself. A few weeks ago, there was a little brou-ha-ha with my tennis league, because I was late. Not really because I was late – but that was one factor. In any case, since then, I’ve been determined to be on time and yet something is always tripping me up – Paul’s out of town, Ellie throws a fit, Chris can’t carpool – it’s always something. I’m late girl. It’s awful. Well, this Wednesday I got into the car, turned the key, and nothing. Totally dead. Our car’s battery doesn’t hold a charge well at all and lately it’s been getting worse. We’ve had to jump it so often that we bought a little re-charger that you plug in and has two jumper cables attached.
I, however, have never used it myself. A mechanical idiot – I’m afraid I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers – or my dad – or my husband – or anyone but myself – to get me out of my car trouble. But I was determined. I called Paul on his cell phone and called him back again and again as I got detailed instructions on how to jump the car (including how to pop the hood!) And I was successful! I jumped the car myself! Luckily, for me the court reservation got mixed up and everyone had to go to Elbow Beach instead, which is closer to my house, so I wasn’t too late, actually. I wouldn’t have been late at all, but never having played there – it took me a while to find the courts.
My story’s not done. I played for 1 ½ hours and then had to go to a Pilates lesson, but I decided to go home to change first. The car started! Now for some back-story – the Pilates lessons were a Christmas present from Paul. They are very expensive here and they’ve only now been able to fit me in (4 month wait). If you don’t cancel 24 hours in advance, you still get charged. Anyway, I rushed home, changed clothes, slurped a smoothie I didn’t have time to drink for breakfast and headed out the door. Turned key and nothing. Car was dead. But I was determined. I would not miss that damned lesson! So I plugged in the little charger again – attached the cables and voila! – I jumped it again! This time, I threw my little charger and extension cord in the car and headed off. Well, the parking lot was full at the studio, so I went to the Botanical Gardens up the road and parked in the stall right next to the Ladies’ bathroom – which was open. I figured there’d be an outlet in there, if I needed it. I ran to the lesson –late, of course, – but I still got a good 40 minute workout in.
After the lesson ended at noon, I ran back to the Gardens, so that I could pick Ellie up on time at 12:30. Got in the car, turned the key – and you guessed it, nothing – dead. So I jumped that car – hustling into the Ladies’ room with my extension – third time in the morning. Success, of course. Well, I figured I’d better drive for a while to charge it up before picking up Ellie, so I headed out to the aquarium instead of into town – a detour that took an extra 15 minutes, I guess. By the time, I got back into town, it was 12:45, I decided to grab the first parking spot I could find which was on the opposite side of Church street from Ellie’s school. I ran in, got her, and hustled outside, turned the key – and nothing! Damn it! At least, I didn’t have to pick up Pete until three, but what to do? All electrical outlets were across the street. I decided to call Paul. We pushed the car across the street in a break from traffic – this time, he took the extension cord through the automatic doors of the government building to plug in our little recharger.
There must be a moral to this story – even mechanical idiots with enough motivation can become expert car jumpers? Or buy a new battery, dummy! Or no matter what she’s always late!
Well, we did buy a new battery. And the story of how we got it – is a typical Bermuda story for another day. (Hint – in spite of owning a popular model car – there weren’t any replacement batteries on the island. 2nd hint – I have a handy husband).
