What’s that saying? No good deed goes unpunished? Well, that old adage came true for me on Monday. My neighbor has been in and out of the hospital recently with heart problems that have left her very weak. Her husband had an appointment with the eye doctor, so they called on Saturday to ask if I could come and sit with her while he was away.
They are a lovely couple and I’d told them on several occasions to call me if they needed me. Trouble is, I hadn’t expected them to need me when I was on deadline and trying desperately to get my final spit and polish on my manuscript. Still, how long could it take? So at 12:30, I took my Kindle, my garage door opener, my cell phone, a fresh cup of coffee in my thermal mug, and walked out the front door and across the street.
About two and a half hours later, her husband returned. I stayed only long enough to say my farewells and head back across the street. I stopped to remove the mail from my mailbox, then hit the garage door opener and headed for the door leading inside. Need I say more? I departed out the front door, and before leaving I failed to unlock the door leading into the garage.
I don’t hide a key outside my house. I have another neighbor who has a key—she was in Kansas City watching her grandchildren. My daughter has a key, but she was on Interstate 70 somewhere between Baltimore and Indianapolis. My son has a key, but he was in Texas on business.
Cell phone in hand, I looked up the name of a local locksmith who said he could be to my house in an hour or so. Now, that’s not bad—except when you’re on deadline and you’ve already been gone from home for more than two hours. I cringed and told him I’d sure appreciate it if he could put a move on. Not sure he appreciated my comment, but he arrived with a smile—an hour later.
While I waited in the garage, I opened my bill from the electric company and a plethora of advertisements. That didn’t take long, and the trash can was handy. No, I didn’t trash the electric bill, but I contemplated the idea.
After a few minutes pacing the length of the garage, I decided it sure needed a bit of cleaning. I had a broom at hand, but since I didn’t have a dustpan in the garage, I used my female ingenuity. I lifted the snow shovel from a nearby wall and decided to turn it into a makeshift dustpan. I do NOT recommend this procedure. I almost knocked myself out when I tried to wrangle the shovel while opening the trash bin.
In case you’re wondering, it took the locksmith all of ten seconds to pick my lock and get me inside. Cost: $52.30. Helping a neighbor? Priceless.
Dear Judy! What a true friend you are to drop everything at a minute's notice and help your neighbour, especially right at this critical time when you are on deadline. You deserve all the best things in life my friend! I think perhaps you should change the title of your post from "No Good Deed" to, "A Friend in Need" You sure needed that locksmith! Have you ever thought what wonderful burglars they would make? I mean, pick a lock in 20 seconds and bob's your uncle!
ReplyDeleteAmidst the satire of your post, I could pick that you were a mite distressed with such events happening, but how apt was your post for me!
This evening, Pete and I had just the reverse happen to us. We were doing our usual Wednesday afternoon /evening stint at Nicky's. She was late home from work and had had an extremely stressful day. She barely had time to swallow her evening meal before she left for a seminar.She grabbed her satchel rushed out the front door calling her "Goodbyes" as she did so, but.... too late! I heard the click of the key turning in the lock and off she drove, completely unaware that we were unable get out of the house! Just force of habit, as she locks the door each morning to drop the boys at school and continue onto work..we all know that routine don't we? Very easy to slip into "auto" mode!
Well, there we all stayed in "Fort Knox" until 8:45PM when Mick arrived home from work and unlocked the door.Three Cheers!
As in your situation, our spare keys were also unobtainable! LOL!!
Fun Post Judy, but on a more serious note..I pray that everything ran to schedule for the remainder of your day!:)
Hi Rosie,
ReplyDeleteYes, the remainder of my day went fine. Must be the week for either getting locked in or out of the house. :) I did mention to the locksmith that it was a bit unnerving to see how easily he got in. He grinned and said, "Well, I did go to school to learn." Somehow that didn't make me feel any better. LOL.
Oh poor Judy! Doing a good deed and then being locked out (I'll spare you any KEY-related puns *wink*) but I'm so glad that locksmith was available. Praying the writing goes smoothly and all doors "remain open" for you, sweet friend. ~ I must add your post did bring a much-needed chuckle to my day. After spending an hour and a half in the dentist chair this morning, then spilling an entire cup of coffee on myself,I'm thinking I might just stay here at my computer the remainder of the day, LOL. Hugs, Patti Jo
ReplyDeleteI think I'd rather be locked out than have to endure the dentist and then pay HIS bill. :) Was it the novocane that caused that coffee spill? My daughter was locked out of her apartment last week and spent the night on the deck--then Rosie got locked in and I got locked out. What a group we are!
ReplyDeleteThat means that i should not be having trouble with locked doors this week...three already did! Unless, of course, i start the next set of three!
ReplyDeleteJudy, I had to chuckle...no I'll tell the truth I laughed out loud when I read about your "adventure". Especially the part about almost knocking yourself out with your makeshift dustpan!
ReplyDeleteI'm not being rude, but totally identifying with you. I would have done the same thing in that situation...cleaning the garage while you wait for the Locksmith, why not? Two birds with one stone, makes sense to me. I would put it on the same level as cleaning out the car as you wait for AAA to come fix your flat tire, right? See told ya we think alike! lol
I am sure your neighbor appreciated you helping him out, that was a very nice thing to do. And I believe you will get a return blessing (besides a clean garage) ;-) Love you Judy!