Things have a way of piling up

Editors Note: This column originally ran in the Dec. 2, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail.

Have you ever planned a perfect day where you had no commitments? You were delighted to know that you could just do whatever you wanted, read a book, watch a DVD, take a nap or even clean out the refrigerator. Somehow those days don't materialize for me very often.

I thought I had such a day this week, but I got a phone call. Alexander Graham Bell did us a big service when he invented the telephone, but some-times I really wish that we didn't always have to be within reach of a phone. But I got a call that made me have to change clothes, drive hurriedly into town and pick up our great-grand-daughter, who had become ill at the Regional Technical Center here in town. That wouldn't have been such a big deal; she no longer lives with us here in Vernon County, but is with her mother in Butler. Obviously she needed to be taken to Butler.

Since we lived in Butler several years ago that was not a big problem, except that the car was low on gas. I didn't want to keep the feverish teenager waiting in a cold car while I filled up so I thought I would risk trying to get up there on the gas I had.

Thankfully that turned out OK and I got her safely to her new home. But when we got there the door was locked since her mother was at work in Appleton City. Several phone calls later we got her into the house (My apologies, to Mr. Bell for fussing at him earlier. I was very glad we had phones now.)

After being sure that there was someone to stay with her, I then went to get gas. I wasn't sure I had remembered to pick up my credit card after I had ordered some Christmas gifts earlier in the supposedly lazy day. I had my checkbook with me but very little cash. At the door of the service station (why do they call them that now, when the customer does all the service?) there was a sign saying no out of town checks accepted. Even though I had once lived in Butler I didn't think they would cash my check without someone vouching for me.

I quickly thought of our former church members who would remember me that I could call, but when I reached into my pocket for my cell phone, I felt a piece of plastic. Somewhere in the hurry I had put my credit card in my coat pocket.

So now I had my gas and was able to get on my way after another check on the patient. She seemed to be doing OK and her mother was due home from work within an hour, so I started back home.

That caused me to think about how things change so quickly. Not only had my day been changed radically, my feeling of being in charge of things got a jolt also.

But it had all worked out and I even enjoyed driving in the sunny cold afternoon with my memories of our Butler friends keeping me company.

That night I enjoyed an early bedtime watching a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie until I got another phone call. This one was from the newspaper asking about my column for today. I told them it had been sent in earlier and went to get a copy to resend it when I realized that not only did they not receive it; I hadn't written it. I had thought about writing about my unexpected trip to Butler, but had never really done it.

But here it is. I have learned my lesson. Don't count on lazy days. They come back to haunt you.