Yesterday we were so happy because we got our truck back!! Hooray!
(I planned on posting a picture of our truck in this blog post, but this picture I snapped of my boys yesterday was way better than a truck picture. I love Bracken’s hair sticking up in the wind!)
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On Monday it was Day 10 since we had been to town. If it had been summertime, we would have been happily dining on garden fare. But there’s not much in the garden right now and we were really wanting to go to the grocery store (not to mention we were running dangerously low on toilet paper, a nice thing to have around, eh?)
Our neighbor dropped off his truck for us to borrow on Sunday night. The gas station had been closed so he only had enough gas in it for us to make it the three miles to Mapleton.
So Monday morning we headed to town! The empty tank made us nervous and we were hoping we’d make it to the gas station. Despite that, we were so excited to finally get some things we needed. We talked about what we wanted to get in town. (The same meals day after day was beginning to get a little, well… boring.) When we made it to the gas station, we breathed a sigh of relief. We made it!
Then we noticed the closed sign. Yes, the gas station was closed on a Monday. Seriously?!
The bank was next door so we figured we could at least get one errand run.
Then we couldn’t find the check we were going to cash. Seriously?!
So we drove back home, praying we’d have enough gas to make it and feeling so disappointed we couldn’t drive to Florence to get groceries and essentials.
We felt so discouraged. I told Jeff that we had some really bizarre vehicle karma lately. We were afraid to get in a car again. It was stressful to be in a vehicle on the verge of breaking down or running out of gas any moment. Jeff was ready to get a horse and buggy and say goodbye to vehicles forever (though we knew we didn’t have room here for a horse, unfortunately.) We felt glum because we had so badly wanted to go to town (we had gotten ourselves all excited dreaming about the fruit smoothies we were going to treat ourselves to and we were having crazy cravings for some kombucha!) It was funny all the times we’d gone to town saying it was so noisy and overwhelming and we’d much prefer to be at home in the quiet country (which is true), and yet there we were wanting to go to town so badly and realizing that not being able to go to town made us more grateful for the good things it had to offer.
Then we decided to do something to turn our day around and cheer ourselves up.
We had a movie night!
We used to have Friday Night Movie Nights every week and looked forward to them. It became a challenge to have movie nights after Bracken joined us, he wasn’t really into it, so we stopped. (I don’t even remember when our last one was?) I didn’t really miss it much, a good book and some knitting satisfied me perfectly. The relaxation of movie night was what we had enjoyed and when Bracken wasn’t enjoying it, it wasn’t relaxing at all. Something inspired us to try again. So we brought the laptop (where we watch movies, we don’t have a TV) into the living room and looked at the instant movies on Netflix. We saw that Season 7 of ‘The Office’ was available to watch! You would have thought that we had just won the lottery with the incredible excitement that filled our household! ‘The Office’ is our very favorite show ever and we had been waiting for the next season.
Jeff had made some lard with pig fat from Deck Family Farm. He fried what was leftover after rendering lard and made “cracklin’s” (our family favorite!)
So, we curled up on the couch, by the warmth of the woodstove. We dimmed the lights, ate cracklin’s and watched ‘The Office.’ Bracken happily played with toys at our feet. We laughed so hard our stomachs hurt. It was the best medicine for a discouraging day. We were so happy Bracken enjoyed movie night. It was just what we all needed. Sometimes watching something funny that inspires incredible laughter, is just the ticket, you know?
On Tuesday morning, Jeff found about a cup of gas he had for his chainsaw. He put it in our neighbor’s truck and it was just enough to get us the three miles to the gas station. And believe it or not, the gas station was open on a Tuesday. We still didn’t find that missing check, after scouring the entire house (but maybe it will show up when we least expect it?) We drove to Florence! We got groceries! We were so happy!
We mailed out orders throughout the week. As I was carrying a basket of packages ready to mail out, I was overcome with so much gratitude for all the support and love so many generous people were giving to our family. We had orders. We had messages and e-mails full of encouragement and kind words. We even got a surprise package of handmade gifts. Our hearts were bursting.
(Thank You! Thank You!)
We returned our neighbor’s truck. Yesterday, on Friday, our friend drove us to pick up our truck. It seemed like forever since we had last been in it. Being without a vehicle to get to and fro, made us appreciate our truck more than ever.
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It feels so good to be up and running again!
Oh vehicle karma! We have had some bad car juju this year too. Its so frustrating. The last time we had to put in all this money to fix our car and then we got it back and I was disappointed – I felt like it should have at least looked different somehow! I love your movie night. We don’t have a tv either, but use our computer and a projector on the wall (very fun) The office is so great, I almost cry laughing so hard.
You guys need to stock up more food. We could pretty easily live here-food-wise- for 10 days and eat well, of course, we definitely need a vehicle to get back and forth to work but then Phil fixes all our vehicles and my brother is close by to help. We are very fortunate.
You have a very kind neighbor and your movie night sounds really nice. Good luck in finding that check, retrace your steps and then look in places where you don’t think it could be, lol.
April- That’s awesome you love the Office. Every episode makes us laugh so hard!
Rose- Thanks so much!
Lindsey- I happen to love the song you mentioned! It’s so fun to sing along to. π That would have been the perfect song for me to sing to the vehicle gods. haha.
Let me know if you watch the Office. I hope you LOVE it! Dwight rocks. You’ll see. π
We start market next weekend. Thank you for all your warm wishes!
Oh Wow Taryn, I’ve never heard of such bizarre vehicle karma; what in the world is going on!? It’s very VERY fishy. π
I’m so glad you finally, eventually got to Florence, finally got groceries, and finally got your truck back! Holy cow. I hope this is the end of that drama for you guys.
[This is kinda funny, Hubby just now turned on some music from the ancient archives of his computer, and the one that came on as I’m writing this comment is “What’s Up” by the Non Blondes, and the lady is singing “and I say HEY-ay-ay-ay… I said HEY… WHAT’S GOING’ ON?”
Haahaa! Yes, a very good question.] π
Anyway, I love your story about movie night!! That made me smile really big; I’m so glad Bracken enjoyed it so that you guys could have that laugh therapy. I swear, sometimes laughter is the only thing that can raise the energy. What a gift it is! I’ll have to watch The Office… I loved the old British version of the Office but have never watched the American version. Will have to!!
Hubby and I had a movie night last night too, it felt so great to laugh!
Lots of love, and hope you have a successful weekend at Holiday Market, if it’s this week! So glad you got your truck back in time.
Lindsey
Your son is growing up so fast and what a cutie. I enjoy reading your stories. you have a great gift. have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Love Rose
Yay! So glad it’s up and running again! We too only use netflix for watching tv/movies occasionally, and we LOVE the office!