Memories from the Jar - Frustration with Cars

Today's slip of paper reads: "Tell about a frustrating experience you have had with a car."

Ha! How much time do you have? I could go on for awhile. There is one time that stands out though...

My first car was a red 1988 Honda Prelude...it looked a lot like this.


It was a sweet, reliable little car and we did get along pretty well. This particular time, I was a student at Utah State and had just pulled into the parking lot of Lee's Marketplace in Logan to do my grocery shopping. My shopping list was not quite finished, so I turned off the car and sat in the driver's seat for a few minutes and finished the list. I grabbed my purse, jumped out of the car, locked it, and headed into the store. I remember this particular grocery shopping trip not only because of the car issue, but because I was short on money and spent more than I should have, so I was really feeling a lot of stress as I left the store. It wasn't until I was headed back to my car with my cart full of groceries that I got that strange feeling--who knows where it comes from--that I didn't have my keys on me. I dug around in my bag and sure enough, no keys. I panicked and ran to the car, looked through the window, and sure enough...there were the keys, sitting in the ignition. The problem was this...as you might assume, this car was built before the days of remote control for locking your car. I had developed a habitual motion for locking the car as I got out...as I pulled the handle to open the car, I'd just automatically reach with my finger and flip the lock. That way I just never had to worry about whether or not I'd locked the car. I always had. This was a pretty effective system for a long time, but now it had backfired on me.

I was almost in tears. The combined stress of spending too much money and then locking my keys in my car was almost too much for me that day. I spent a few minutes trying in vain to pick the lock, then resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to call a locksmith. Thirty-five dollars later, I was in my car, even poorer than I'd been when I left the grocery store, and feeling really foolish. I got on my cell phone and called home, venting my frustration to my dad, who, as usual did a great job of helping me get some perspective and calm myself down. I talked as I drove (I know, I know...did you know that's actually illegal in California as of July 1st this year?) and pulled into my parking spot at my house, then sat in the car for a couple of minutes finishing up my conversation with my dad. Feeling much calmer, I got out of the car, swung the door shut behind me, and...AAAH!...felt my stomach clench up. I spun, grabbed at the handle, and heard the door click into place. My keys were still sitting in the ignition.

That was the last straw. I burst into tears, feeling like the biggest idiot ever to grace the planet. I'd just locked my keys in my car for the second time in an hour! And any of you who have been poor college students know how much $70 is worth. Additionally, I was mortified at the thought of having to call the locksmith again. This was Logan, Utah...there's only one locksmith in town.

Thankfully, the locksmith folks had a sense of humor and some mercy to spare...they could tell how distressed I was and came to unlock my car for free the second time. But you can only imagine how happy I am today to be the owner of a car with remote control locks.