Havin' a Breakdown

So you guys missed me during my little blog hiatus, right? I can tell on account of the one dozens of "where are you?" comments and the zero tons of worried e-mails. Well, I’m back, and I've been doing so many amazing, life-changing things* that I don't even know where to start.

*And by "amazing" and "life-changing" I mean slightly more exciting than diapers and laundry.

The primary reason I put the blog on hold, though, was for a surprise trip to Missouri to see my best friends. I get so tired of those hussies (and I say that with the utmost fondness) doing things without me. The nerve! Just because I live four hours away, I get left out of everything? Hmmmph. So when I heard that Betsy, Denni, Jenna, and Lisa were going to a crab-leg buffet - a CRAB LEG BUFFET, y'all - I was really sad. And right after I posted something on Facebook about craving crab legs, too.

"Iotiredamiingoutonerythiiiiing," I sobbed to Curtis.

"You're ... so tired of ... missing out on everything?" he guessed.

"Yeeeeeess!" I wailed.

"So let's drive to Missouri this weekend, and you won't have to miss out on those crab legs," he suggested sweetly.

I swear, at that moment the sun brightened and a hallelujah chorus sounded. My husband may spend ridiculously long stretches on the toilet playing with his iPhone, but by golly, he's a pretty awesome guy. As we made our weekend plans, we decided to take it one step further and make it a big surprise. I love surprising people - especially my friends! This was gonna be SO awesome!

Friday morning came and we headed out. We motored happily down the road for about an hour. But the happy motoring was interrupted when Curtis said, "Uh-oh. We've just lost all our oil pressure." And sure enough, the gauge was on zero. Within a minute or two, there was an ominous knocking sound from underneath the hood.

Fortunately we were close to a small town with a mechanic right off the highway. So we pulled in, and I slumped grumpily in my seat as Curtis and the owner poked around. I was praying that it was something that could be easily fixed and we'd be on our way - but then I heard the owner say, "You won't make it back home, let alone to Missouri."

This is why we had to fork over two hundred bucks to get our Jeep towed back home. And this is why we had to call Curtis's mom to come and get us all the way from Missouri, which is why we ended up waiting in a little cafe for three hours. But there was a bright side to all this fiasco:  a.) the kids were actually good, even with the wait; b.) my grandma's car was sitting unused in her garage in Missouri, and we'd been planning on buying it anyway; and c.) despite our HUGE unplanned detour, I'd still make it just in time to surprise my friends.

The rest of the trip went relatively smoothly. I hadn't planned on telling anyone I was coming in, but I realized that considering the circumstances, I'd need some help - so I let one of my girls in on the secret. Jenna was the only one who I could trust to keep it under her hat, and without her assistance I'd never have been able to pull off my fantastic surprise. She just about exploded trying to hold in the news, but she managed not to leak it to anyone.  

I had jumped through hoop after hoop that day, and at one point hadn't even been sure I'd make it - but I ended up in the parking lot of Denni's apartment just in time to make my grand entrance as they left for the buffet.

Tow truck - $200
Lunch at the cafe while we waited for a ride - $45
Photographic proof of just how much my friends love me ....


 
... absolutely, positively priceless.
    



Comments

  1. That sounds SO fun! Well, not the vehicle trouble or the 3 hour wait, but the surprising and the friends! I LOVE the picture of their faces.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is so awesome! LOVE the look on your friends face, totally priceless for sure!

    That really sucks about your car, I'm pretty sure I would have had a breakdown of EPIC proportions if that happened to me. Thank goodness for your Mom and your Grandma and your good husband and your kids being good. Phew, guess it all worked out well in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Definitely priceless! LOL. The one in the red shirt kinda looks like you. I love reading your blogs :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Okay,that totally made me cry because I already knew how much your friends love you, and because it's so obvious on their faces. Friends like that are rare, and you have a whole bevy of them, AND a wonderful husband! Consider yourself blessed!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have goosebumps - this was a neat posting. I love love love the looks on their faces - that had to have made you feel that it was all worth it, not to mention the crab legs!! I've been moving or I would have noticed you weren't there, really!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Absolutely priceless! What a great thing to be able to do. And I do hope that the crab legs were almost as fabulous as the reaction.

    ReplyDelete
  7. i agree! that photo was totally worth all the hassle :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's awesome. That give me a great big ole smile.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is great! Thank goodness you didn't get the reaction that Jill got on "Real" Housewives of NY when she surprised the ladies on Ramona's island get away. Yes, frowns, stares, shaking, and hyperventilating in anger would be bad.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I LOVE the looks on their faces. Totally priceless!!!!!!!1

    ReplyDelete
  11. Now that is a perfect photo!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That's a great photo! You'll always have that to remind you of how much you are loved and cherised. And kudos to DH for giving you this opportunity. You are surrounded by so much love!

    ReplyDelete
  13. LMAO I still seriously laugh out loud when I see Bets & Lisa's faces - they crack me up! I was SO glad you surprised us - it was one of the best weekends (and surprises) I've ever had! Love ya loads!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh my God. What a fantastic surprise. The look on their face is hysterical. Kudos to hubby for helping you out of your slump. Sometimes it is really so simple to please us. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  15. OK the car bit sucked, but the rest of the weekend sounds great!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh my gosh I love their expressions! I was so sad when I thought you were going to say you didn't make it after all!! But you did! Woo hoo!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I want to jump in my car and drive 4 hours to see my BFF now! only I'd make my mom watch the kids ;) Glad your back...how was the crab?

    ReplyDelete
  18. That is just the best photo ever, look at all that love!

    Sucky about the car though...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh, that picture is great! That's so cool how the universe kicked you in the ass then you kicked it right back and made it work anyway! How fun!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Just so you know, you are always missed. But with a family like you have who can bother you! You would probably be like, "Yes, I just picked up poop for days and couldn't get to the computer!"


    That is one AWESOME surprise. I love it! And Crab Leg Buffet? Yes please.

    ReplyDelete
  21. That may be one of the absolute best photographs I've ever seen in my life! Love their faces. What a fun trip, despite the hiccup. Was it your Jeep that broke down?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Commenting makes you big and strong! Okay, maybe just strong. Okay, so it's only your fingers. But still ...

Popular Posts