A few years ago, David’s car made its last trip. The car we bought next has remote ignition. I used it for trips to Fort Worth to get Peter, because it was newer and therefore, more reliable. And then, I insisted that I drive him around town in that car. My reasoning was that, because the car would get really hot, hot, hot in the summer sun, if I could start the car (the climate control comes on when the car starts), then the interior would be at least a little bit less hot when I put the little boy into his car seat, after a couple of hours at the zoo. Also, that would mean that we wouldn’t have to transfer the car seat from car to car. It was hard not to agree, when it’s Peter’s well-being at issue.
A few years later, when my car was really old, and repairs were costing more than the car was worth, we bought a new car for me to drive. Someone had given Kevin and April an additional car seat, which they handed down to us. It’s permanently installed in my car, at least until Peter’s heavy enough and tall enough to safely ride in a booster seat. And, the car has a remote ignition, too.
The remote ignition is nice for really hot or cold days. But the more important issue is–it helps me locate the car.
I never misplace the car at the grocery store. I drive into the same lane every time I go. Maybe I park nearer the store. Maybe I park at the far, far end of the row, where there is a tree. That’s where I park on hot afternoons, when the smallest amount of shade helps, even at the expense of a few bird droppings. Even then, I will aim the car’s key at the distant car and press the remote button, to get the air conditioning going.
However, in other parking lots, I often drive up and down a couple of lanes to find a closer parking spot. As I exit the car, I gather up my recycled shopping bags, lock the car, and walk into the store. I rarely, ever, think about paying close attention to where, exactly, I have left the car.
Once, leaving Target, I started the car remotely. I walked to where I thought it was. It wasn’t there. I walked down another lane. Nope. I turned around, headed in a different direction, and heard the faint sound of a car’s motor. I walked over toward the sound, and, TA-DAH! There was my car, purring along, waiting for me to locate it.
Lights on! Engine humming!
And, just yesterday, at Wal-Mart, I walked out of the store, pushing the cart with my purchases, and aimed my key fob towards where I thought the car was. As I walked up the lane, I thought, No. This isn’t where I parked the car. I parked with the car headed the other direction.
I kept walking, slowly, looking at other rows of cars, trying surreptitiously to locate my car. (I hate to look like an old woman who cannot remember where her car is, however true it is.) I kept on walking, slowly, slowly. I passed a large white van, and, right in the next slot–was my car, lights on, with the motor humming and humming away. Whew!
Jesus told the people another story:
What will a woman do if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them? Won’t she light a lamp, sweep the floor, and look carefully until she finds it? 9 Then she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, “Let’s celebrate! I’ve found the coin I lost.”
Luke 15:8-9 (Contemporary Version)
I do rather feel like some sort of celebration when I locate the car after I’ve wandered around a parking lot for several minutes. With milk and/or ice cream in the cart. Meanwhile, in other news:
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- I planted some oxblood lily bulbs a couple of Fridays ago. The next Tuesday, one came up.
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- Some toadstools came up, too.
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- As did the red spider lilies.
And I’m almost done sorting out all the yarn!