I cringed every time someone asked me “Oh, are you cooking for Thanksgiving?”
My answer has been “yes, for myself!”
And then folks didn’t know what to say when they realized that J will be gone, my mom is out of town and my kids were with their dad for the four day holiday weekend.
When I say “I am cooking for myself”, this is no ordinary Thanksgiving. I woke up and started the coffee pot and brewed a big pot of my favorite Blue Bottle coffee. I fried some eggs and toasted the bread I made on Wednesday and got out the blackberry jam. And then I took it back to bed to watch movies while eating breakfast.
Just a month or so ago, on a Saturday morning that was chilly and gross, J and I did the same thing together, in my bed. And a few weeks ago, he made us egg sandwiches and coffee and brought it to his bathroom where we took a Jacuzzi tub and ate breakfast. (yes, IN the bathtub…there are scary things like this that explain why we are together)
I am doing some work sewing for a friend. So after breakfast and a movie, I got to work. Making $20 an hour doing something that comes as naturally to me as painting, in my pajamas with twelve Project Runways (I thought it was fitting) lined up in the Tivo, is a good working life.
D came home from Manhattan for the weekend and we’ve walked every day and caught up on each other’s news. Unfortunately, he is not coming home for Christmas and I will miss our usual Christmas eve visiting.
I promised the girls we’d get our tree on Monday after school. But I had an art show down in Rhode Island on Saturday and on the way home, 40 minutes from my house, on a busy highway, my car dead stopped and I rolled into the breakdown lane.
I can thank the girls’ dad for recommending Triple A (AAA) last year when I had work done on my car. Because at 7:30 at night on a Saturday, on a thin shoulder on a highway where folks were cruising past at 75 miles an hour, I was not happy to be alone, broken down. The lady asked if I was alone and when I told her I was, she said she would send the highway patrol to stay with me until the tow truck came. I already knew at this point, due to the lights that came on on the dash, before the car died, (I called my dad in California who GOOGLED it and told me it was the alternator) that my car didn’t just need a jump. This baby was going all the way back up north to my car guy and I was going to shell out some bucks.
Anyway, five minutes after hanging up the phone with AAA, I was waiting for the cops and I was shaking. It kind of freaked me out, that it happened. And then my phone rang and it was the tow truck guy, telling me he was going to be there in about five minutes.
Sure enough, this greasy rugged angel of a tow truck driver appeared at my door and helped me to his truck. Ten minutes later, we were driving north towards my car place. It was a half hour drive and although I was alone with this guy, I felt strangely safe. He told me about his kids and how when he was young, his dad brought him up to our coastal town for a week’s vacation at the beach. And how it was his best memory with his dad, who had recently passed away.
During the ride, I made a comment about how I appreciated how quickly he got to me on the highway and he said they tend to expedite highway breakdowns (some people may wait a few hours) and because I was alone (AAA asked if I was alone when I called them), they got him there asap. He said that for a woman to be on the side of the highway alone is not good because creeps pull over to help and then rob people or attack them, so if the truck can’t get there, they call cops to go sit with the person.
GAH!!!!
In the end, he went over and above the call of duty. We couldn’t get the key out of my ignition, which mean I couldn’t lock my car, which had all of my artwork (my life) from the art show in it. At first he said he’d load it in his truck and take it to my house for me. But there was no way it would all fit in the cab of his truck. Then, he pulled his truck around, and we sat for about five minutes while he charged my battery enough to get the ignition to turn on so I could turn the key and release it. THEN I was able to lock the car before dropping he key in the drop box for my car guys for Monday morning.
To top it off, I couldn’t get a hold of any of my friends that are local to pick me up a mile away at the car place, so the tow truck guy goes, “Well, I’ll just drop you home, I don’t mind!” I thought a minute and then decided to let him, I felt safe enough, but it didn’t stop me from having him drop me on a different corner and walked the other way until he disappeared.
The weekend was crazy. My kids and J left on the same day (Wednesday) and I can’t shake the sad feeling, kind of lonely (THANK GOD FOR SKYPE and his satellite connection!). I had Thanksgiving alone, as well as Friday, where I was productive and carefree and relaxed. Saturday was quite the hell due to the aforementioned event. Sunday, I felt resolved and settled, even though the car is going to cost a bundle and I am currently at home without transportation. At least for a day or so.
All in all, I am grateful for the experience that was as smooth and safe as can be. I am glad my kids are home with me tonight (their dad drove them home for me since I was car-less). And the week will start on a somewhat normal note. In four weeks I will be sitting with J at the place where he is playing piano, at the beginning of my week with him. Until then, I will continue to enjoy my children, Christmas, getting and staying healthy after my bad bout with the cold, and continue to be creative and sell and relax and be grateful.
I am glad everything turned out OK with the breakdown, that can be scary as hell, as my wife knows!
I’m glad that went as smoothly as it did! Good to hear AAA and the tow truck guy treated you so well.
Here’s to getting the car back soon, and hopefully not too expensively.
Urghhhh to the breakdown … and Yes the guy sounds like he did help out a lot .., but can understand you being cautious ..
Hope you had a great thanksgiving (we don’t celebrate it here) … sounds like a really nice day!
I’d love to have a relaxing day .. do as you like .. day like that ..
Have a great day ..
Before you know it-you’ll be decorating the tree with your kids and things will be crazy again! haven’t posted a comment in a while-hope your still painting.
“Greasy Angel”…heehee. That’s a tough one my dear. It would have been more difficult with the girls in tow (pardon on the pun eh). You’re a survivor – plenty of grit and determination.
I am glad you are safe back home! I am thankful for the person who was kind and helped you unselfishly. What a hero.
So sorry you will be facing a unexpected car expenditure with Christmas so close. You need that like a hole in the head.
But…I think all in all, you came out smelling like a rose!
I broke down once (well more than once, but on this time…)it was December, dark, cold, rainy, and I was with kids. And AAA didn’t ask if I was alone. Luckily my father in law was home and able to come sit with me until the driver got there.
Hopefully if it’s just an alternator it shouldn’t be too bad. But lots to be thankful for anyway. I toasted you on Thanksgiving by the way! Hope you felt it.
I needed AAA for a busted fuel pump a few months back. Same thing, as soon as I told them I was on a highway onramp they expidited my request. Best $75 I spent this year.
That’s scary about the car breaking down…one of my fears….I really need to get AAA!!! Sounds like a decent Thanksgiving to me. Just a YOU day. Although with everyone gone I can see how you got antsy yesterday. The four weeks till you go visit J will fly by!
One of my brothers is a tow truck driver. He truly is a greasy angel. There are plenty of times that he’s stopped to help someone and wound up fixing their car – at no charge. He bends over backwards to help those who call him and sometimes those who don’t. I hear enough stories like that to think that perhaps tow truck drivers really do have a higher calling disguised as grease monkey.
I love AAA they have bailed me out more times than I can count. I made sure as a gift to the girls (and me) that when they all started driving that they all got a membership. Peace of mind has no price…
Wow, how scary. I am so glad that AAA took care of you–they are pretty awesome.
I’m sorry that you had a lonely Thanksgiving and glad that the girls are back with you. Keep smilin’.
I had too much family this year, so your Thanksgiving sounds kind of refreshing. All except for the break down.
Omg, I’m so glad that you’re safe and okay!
. . . “there are scary things like this that explain why we are together” is my favorite sentence this week – it’s both real and hilarious!
It is so nice to know there are kind people out there who don’t mind helping others when they need it. Hope the car fix wasn’t extraordinarily expensive!!