It is true. My daughter has embraced another part of the Texas culture and bought a truck. Yes, a truck. Not any old truck, but a bright red truck. American made! She has become one of the majority on our roads! What did I think? Well, in the first instance, I am wildly jealous. In the second instance every other instance reverts back to the first. I must say though, credit where credit is due, she did not whimsically decide upon this course of action, (you cannot whimsically decide to buy a monster,) and was not as impulsive as usual. She did her homework, worked out how much it would cost to run, repair, etc., and actually waited until the perfect specimen was available. Perhaps not the perfect specimen, but near enough. I can forgive that little bit of impulsiveness. The wait for the perfect specimen would have been well into next year. Did she let me drive it! Heck yeah!
I sat by the pool on Saturday, when this huge red vision came into sight. "What is that?" I thought as it blocked my view form everything and almost blocked out the sun! (Please allow for slight, yes 'slight' exaggeration!) She drove me back to my condo and asked if I would like to take it for a spin. Perhaps 'spin' was not a good word, as it would be easy, I would think, for me to spin this vehicle, if I took the corner too fast, or just drove it! However, before I could drive, I had to get in. I am vertically challenged for a crossover, let alone a step up to the second storey of a house! "There is a handle", she said, proudly. "Grab it to help pull yourself up", she continued. "I can't reach it", I responded. I needed a step ladder to get to the assistant! I reached up, grabbed the handle, just, and hauled myself into the driving seat. I must say, it was not much different to a car, once inside. The gear stick was by the steering wheel, a position I have encountered before. There was a lot more space, and my head was almost in the clouds! (Please allow for slight, yes 'slight' exaggeration!) I started her up. Once out of our complex and on to the road, I felt quite at home in the cab. It was a smooth ride, and I drove to the office and back. It was not 'heavy' as I had imagined, and did not roar. It was actually an incredibly comfortable, smooth ride. People stared when we sat at traffic lights, not because I was driving a truck (and yes, Mum, I could see over the steering wheel!) but because I had just dyed my daughter's hair and she was sitting in the passenger seat with a shower cap on her head!
"What do you mean a truck", asked my mother on Sunday morning. "A truck. Like, a truck", I said. "With the bit on the back?" she asked, probably trying to find a better term than 'bit'. "Yes". I replied. "Why?" she asked. "Because she is here!" I said. Admittedly, if she was still living in Blighty, and she drove what she is driving now, everyone would consider her a tradesman of sorts. Here it is like your average saloon! (Sedan!)
Climbing in and out of the vehicle was not easy, at first. Monday morning saw me hitching my skirt so high, I could have been charged with indecent exposure! The dogs were not happy. "They will adapt", I was told, but would I?
So I started my week, and things did not get any easier. Routine was a word that had been put on hold, and as everyone knows, I don't play well with others if it involves change! My car needed a service and inspection. I had a meeting on Tuesday, then a nail appointment and regular Wednesday night fellowship group, and that was enough to set the mood on Monday morning, aside from the possibly indecent exposure rap!
My jar of salad dressing was in the mailbox 
when I checked the post early in the morning. (Obviously I am still having trouble with pictures!) I was expecting two, but it was a prize, so I did not bother making a fuss. "Thursday morning okay for the car?" Dana called. Sure, why not! I had hoped I could take it in on Monday wait for it and come back within the hour, but I had requested a full service as it has not had one for a while, and it was starting to sound like it had breathing issues! The poor old lady has run up well over a century in thousands, and needed a good old fashioned health check! Thursday would have to do!
"What the.....". It just didn't seem to register. Each time I walked out into my carport, I saw this red block in my way. It was like a wall that had been erected to stop anyone getting past! When I say bright red, I mean bright! Once again, I had to look around to make sure no one was looking, hoisted up my garments, and on tiptoes reached as far as I could to grab the handle. I wondered about attaching a rope!
The laughter was raucous when Jerry brought out a small stand from his own truck and put it my the passenger door. "Oh very funny" said I, not because he put it there, but because he was going to take it away! It would have been perfect. "Some trucks come with a small ladder fitted", was an unhelpful comment. I suppose that was not on the list of requirements! An item that never made it to the pro's and con's list was, "How is mother going to get in?" or maybe it did!
My meeting on Tuesday was quick and to the point. It was at 5pm but I stayed at the office rather than try and get home early to set up my computer and be told no one could hear me. I couldn't really hear a lot as it was on a video conference call, and by the time I got my sound and video to work, it was nearly over. Perhaps I just need a lesson, rather than a new set of computers! By the time it was nearly over, I realised that the numbers on the side of the screen were for the amount of messages that had been typed, suggesting that I type my response rather than try to speak. It's a work in progress! "What instructions?" The committee obviously don't know me well enough to know that I don't do well with instructions. Or perhaps they do! Conspiracy?
Hurricane Laura was due to hit the coast and people were preparing. It was looking as if there would be a good deal of damage, and devastation, in an area that had not yet recovered from two previous disasters. We were experiencing record temperatures again,, and although we were not happy about the impending hurricane, we knew that a modicum of rain and cooler weather may be coming through. It seems cruel to benefit from someone else's woe, but it is a law of nature.
I was on duty Wednesday morning. Our maintenance man was out of town, and I had promised that I could do the required spraying of our pool furniture in his absence. I had many offers of help, but as I do very little in my capacity a board member, I felt I could 'earn my keep' in a small way. "You do contribute", said my husband when I explained why I wanted to be the one to do the job. "Yes, I do. I let everyone know if something is amiss with the pool, around the pool, by the pool, in the pool. The trees that need trimming, or surfaces that need repairing or any other aspect of our complex goes unnoticed if it does not contain the word pool", I responded! This was my penance! I found the key with the help of my trustee new truck owner, and sprayed judiciously! I went to work in my own car, which meant that I could easily drop into the seat! I drove across the river at about ten to nine. My nails were decorated and I headed back across town to work.
Thankfully, despite a lot of rain and damage to certain areas of Louisiana, and some unfortunate fatalities, in the words of our governor, we "dodged a bullet!" Laura lost her voice pretty quickly after landfall and the waters receded. Mandatory evacuation orders were rescinded and things opened near enough normally on Thursday morning. We did not get our rain, nor a drop in temperature, but it was all for the greater good.
I dropped my car off at the mechanics around eight-thirty. I took my grappling hooks and climbed the face of the red mountain to be taken back to the office, and waited for the report that was bound to come, letting me know the work that needed to be completed on the old lady.
The temperatures rose to above the century and were careering off the charts by the afternoon. My car needed to have some work done. A few little things needed replacing. Those little things were what held the engine in place, etc. You know, screws, bolts, mountings. Thankfully, it was not drastic, but it could have been if I had not decided to have it looked at. I had suspected, hence the request. I would need a loan car for a couple of days.
We drove to Joe, and my daughter proudly showed off the beast to my friend. He was impressed. "Wow. Wow. Wow. Nice. Wow", came the first few comments. "How does she get in?" came next. Ha ha, funny, funny. She manages, with the help of mountaineering gear! "Do you have a ladder. Some trucks come with......". Oh how I have heard it all before!
I fell out of the truck on Friday. Actually, slid down and made landfall about fifteen minutes later! (Please allow for slight, yes 'slight' exaggeration!) I was trying to hold the door as it swung out, and missed, and could not co-ordinate. No, I did not hurt myself. Oh my pride was a bit injured, but thankfully the door did not hit anything. A broken me would, apparently, have been okay, but a scratch on the new baby, (big baby,) would have been unforgivable.
My car was ready Friday afternoon. I took Dana's car home, picked up the loan car, drove across town, and paid the bill. It was like driving a new car. (Please allow for slight, yes 'slight' exaggeration!) Actually, it was like driving an old car, in comparison to the truck, Dana's car and even the loan car, but in comparison to the demolition derby exhibit that I had taken in, it was like driving a new car! I wove and weaved in between the traffic on the way back, thankful for being in a small model again! I made the round trip in less than an hour, and was thankful that my taxi-driving skills had remained in tact! No, I did not stop for everyone that waived at me!
"I take it to a place across town. They have done work on her since she was born", I told the postman who was amazed that my old lady had reached sixteen years! Would I like a new model. Well (shh) yes, but really there is no point. I only drive her occasionally. Did I want a truck. Heck yeah! Will I get one. No!
I suffered my first work related injury on Saturday morning. I had to refill the spray bottle, and scratched my hand. I wont be putting in for 'workers compensation', but it was very sore. I had completed my shifts throughout the week without a hitch. I came back home and showed Dana. He sighed. "Perhaps you need to wear protective clothing", he joked. Perhaps I do! Our morning was routine (thank goodness) and we headed out to the shops. "You can't use the toll roads, ever!" I told my daughter. "It says 'no trucks, no trailers', so you can't use it". The look of, "Who are you?" came across her face. "No, this is a 'pick up' truck. Trucks mean...", and we said in unison, "Lorries". I looked at her. "Why don't they just say Lorries?" I asked. "Because no one would know what they were talking about, and trucks would go on the toll road!" she retorted as quick as a flash. Must be the new 'pick up'. We did our rounds, and packed everything on to the floor in the back. We did not need to use the 'bed'. The back is very spacious.
After my swim, and afternoon of relaxation, I went back to work. My second job, not my regular employment. Most of the furniture had not been moved, used or touched, but I did my duty. It had been a pleasant day by the pool, and a couple of regulars had been in attendance.
I was very careful on Sunday, as once again I had to refill the pot. It is tough working seven days a week, but I guess I am not alone! (I want to add one of those little smiley face thingies at this point.) What a week it had been. What's more, I survived! I shall spend the afternoon contemplating ways of negotiating entrance into the large red pick up and perhaps read a bit. Another hot day is on the cards, but the week coming up promises to give us some respite. I wonder what else will be around the corner. A convey of big red trucks? I doubt it, but wouldn't that make a great start to ............. another story!
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