Saturdays are for errands

Saturdays are my typical errand day. Go to the bank, do some food shopping, get that oil change after 8000 miles over due. (no one procrastinates like I do) and fix the burnt out headlight I’ve been sporting for three months, not to mention finally getting the car inspected also 8 months overdue (I told you no one procrastinates like I do.)

After making it to the oil change and headlight facility (because I would never have gotten both done in the same day if it wasn’t all in one place) I realized, I didn’t have any money on me, or my credit card to PAY for the services rendered. I’m an idiot, an idiot that left my wristlet with my cash, credit cards and checkbook at home.

Me: “Daddy! I’m having the car fixed so I can go and try to pass inspection after I leave here but….”

Dad: “I’ll be right there Mel.”

In his heroic fashion my father arrived with check in hand to pay to have the car fixed.

(…..I LOVE YOU DADDY….)

Dad: “Okay, Mel, now, do you know how to get to the inspection station?”

Me: “No.”

Dad: “How were you going to get there?”

Me: “I was going to ask you.”

Dad: sigh sigh sigh. “Have you ever been to an inspection station?”

Me: “No.”

Dad: sigh sigh sigh. “Do you know what you need to give to the people at the inspection station?”

Me: “No.”

Dad: sighs turned into more like angered gasping for oxygen. “Do you have your drivers license, registration and insurance card?”

Me: “No.”

Dad: shaking head annoyed and veins popping out of neck. “What do you mean?”

Me: “Well, I have my drivers license, I have the registration, but it looks like my insurance card expired in…. um, February….”

Dad: “Great Mel, that’s just great. Follow me to my house, I think we have your new Insurance Card.”

*my important mail goes to their house, since, as ya’ll know, I never get my own mail.*

As I was following my father down the highway, I dawned on me, if I was to be pulled over at that exact moment, I would have been royally screwed. I had an expired insurance card, and an expired inspection sticker. Both huge tickets, both huge fines, and even the possibility of having my car towed for not complying with any of the New Jersey state laws. (Good job! Way to be on top of things.) I don’t think my father would have been too thrilled having to pay to get my car out of an impound station, or paying fines to the state because I don’t take care of any car related things. I just don’t think about my car. At all. I drive it. That’s it.

(note to self: pay attention to your car, and the legal documentation required to operate said vehicle)

When we got back to my parent’s house to obtain the ever so necessary effective insurance card, and retrieve my wallet, I decided NOW would be a good time to PAY MY FATHER BACK. That’s right! PAY HIM BACK.

As you can tell by the expression of shock on my fathers face, its not too often I keep a promise to pay back any of the zillions I am indebted to my parents for. I think I almost gave him heart failure!

But, by the time I made it to the inspection station, they were closed. They close at 12 on Saturdays. They close the exact same time I wake up on Saturdays. OOops.