November, you are a cruel bitch...

Every year November sucks.

Aside form the birth of my youngest child, each year November has had its struggles.

Deaths in the family, job losses, first marriage, all have happened in November.

So the events detailed below should have not been a surprise to me. (Or you if you were following me on twitter.)

I am an optimist.

When I left my house yesterday at 1pm I was excited about the really cool gifts I was going to be buying for my 10 year old to celebrate his upcoming birthday. I knew just what he wanted, where I was going to get it, and that I'd be back home in about 25 mins. I was able to look past how I had spent my last 15 mins looking for my car keys.

So five minutes later, when I saw the glow of the Toys 'R Us sign as I sat in traffic, I was undeterred. A little traffic jam is no big deal, I'm 50 feet from the turn, surely I'll be there in a moment.

A few minutes after that, as I sat in the same spot, I realized that the car was starting to sound funny... Hmmm thats strange, I wonder what can it be? Just then I looked down and all around the dash to discover the fuel light on. Crap! As I tried to pull to the side of the road up hill, she gave out on me. Luckily, I was able to get 90% of it out of the road, and I was only blocking a turn lane. Lots of room to go around me.

After muttering to myself for a few moments about how stupid I was, I pulled out my trusty AAA card and made the call.

A very polite woman answered and we had a nice chat about how she'd get someone right there... just as soon as I told her my address.

"I'm on the street that is on the south side of the northgate mall, between it and the park and ride."

"Sir, do you know what street that is?"

"No, but I'm sure the driver will"

"Well, if you are at the mall, I'll have to have him meet you at a store."

"I'm not at the mall, I'm on the street outside the mall. On the south side. And my car is almost blocking traffic, so I don't want to leave it. (This was a good idea)"

Okay- so now you see how the next several minutes of that conversation went. We finally decided that the best thing would be for her to give my number to the driver and he could call me when he was on the way. (Surprise, he found me. No call needed)

So I'm sitting in my car, feeling like a stupid you know what, when one of Seattle's Finest rolls up. 

He starts flashing his lights, calls it in, and punches some things on his computer.
Finally after a few minutes he gets out of the car and strolls up to my window.

"Everything okay here son?" (Nice, yes- I am older than him most likely)
"I suppose so, I ran out of gas and am just waiting for AAA"
"You ran out of gas? There isn't even a gas station around here, how did you manage that?"
"I don't drive this car often and forgot that it was low."
"Do the gauges function properly?"
"I believe so, I just didn't see the light"
"Well you know you really should check for that every time you get in the car"
"You know you shouldn't be blocking the street"
"I know, but I ran out of gas and the car wouldn't roll up hill."

Yes, that is actually how it went, and it went on... But I'll move on, as he finally did.

Ten more minutes went by, and another cop car rolled up.

"Everything okay?"
"Ran out of gas, waiting on AAA"
"Okay, you'll need to move soon."
"Okay."

Then literally about 5 mins later... (They must know I have donuts in my backseat.)
This one has two guys and they just roll up and roll down their window.
I go to roll down mine, only it wont budge... now the battery is dead.
So I open the door....

"Everything okay"....

Finally, Justin from AAA shows up. Actually, he works for a towing company, which used to be owned by my grandfather. So also this whole time I was waiting for some creepy driver I knew as a kid to come up and call me kiddo and give me a lecture about not getting too low on fuel, and then call all my relatives and tell them how foolish I was, but luckily Justin was about 22 and super nice. He poured in some gas, then gave me a jump. I was off.

Knowing that I needed to let that battery charge for a bit and that you can't let it run while you fill it up, I decided to head over to Sam's Club for gas. I thought that would hopefully be enough time, and I could get there without running out of gas.

I made it, wearily shut the car off, and went to fill up. I swiped my club card.... membership expired. 

Shit! Now I gotta go someplace else for gas.

Hop in the car, cross my fingers... it starts! Phew! Disaster averted! 

I head on up Aurora to the next station and fill up.

On the way back, I run a red light. Totally on accident, from a dead stop. I'm really thinking I need to just go home and call it a day. 

But I forge on.

I get back to Toys R Us. And they are completely sold out of everything relating to Bakugon. Which is the only thing on my list. Anything and everything Bakugon. Grr.

Okay - I can manage, I'll just head up to the Alderwood Toys R Us. 

Same story. 

Starting to feel like a terrible dad. The guild in my head. Why did you wait until the last minute? Of course he wants the most popular toy. Why don't you know its the in thing with all the kids these days. Don't you listen to your kid?

I stop and use the restroom. 

My fly has been down this whole time. 

Awesome!

I go across to Target. Same story different store. Fine. I'll go to the mall.

Alderwood Mall. The only mall in America without a Toy Store.

Lynnwood Fred Meyer? Nope!

You know what? I'll go home and order it on Amazon, express ship, it'll be fine.

I struggle back down towards home in the commute and the rain, cursing my day, but keeping my head up. I'll go on. It'll be better. MyICE is having dinner tonight with a friend, I can sit at home and watch a stupid movie that only guys think are funny, eat a cheeseburger and relax. The day's not lost.

I pull up at home, hop out of the car, get to the door and... 

No house keys. 

Guess I'll shop a bit more.

Fast forward to this morning.

I am bound and determined to get off to a better start. Today will be a good day.

I get up a bit early. Shower, shave, iron a shirt. I'm ready! 

Forget about the big gash I made in my face shaving. 

I'm a survivor. Today is not yesterday. Today is a good day. 

I pull the bike out of the garage, its going to be so nice to get out there and feel the breeze. 

I see the Trash guy coming up the street. I nod, he waves gives me the thumbs up cool bike look. 

Its going to be a good day.

He grabs my trash can, empties it out and puts it back where it started on the curb, then turns around and trips over my recycling bin. Knocking it over and all into the street. I was already off my bike and going to get the can to put away so it doesn't get blown down the street. 

He looks at me, says "Sorry, you got it?" and moves on.

Today will be a better day. I am certain. This won't get to me.

I pick up the recycling and hop on the bike. Now I'm getting out of here. It's still only 8:20. 

I'll be early, get some tea, get a good start.

I head down the street. Test the traction a bit. Not great, but I know how to manage this.

I knew traffic would be bad today, but I'd been thinking all morning about my possible go around routes.

My first one, flooded. I can't ride a bike thru that.

On the way to the next one, on a side street by the zoo where everyone is trying to go around traffic. 

Two cars smash into one another right in front of me. I was smart and going slow, but now I know. 

Today may not be my day either. I'll be at home. I can do no harm. The black cloud will lift tomorrow.


Gin Hahn,
T