So I drove our jeep through the front yard and up the narrow grassy strip that led to the basement door -- a maneuver I'd performed without incident in the past. Only this time, trying to stay well away from the lower side of the road that dropped away rather sharply, I managed to drive the jeep's two left tires up on the bank on the upper side of the road and the vehicle began to tilt-- perilously, it seemed to me.
At that time, the roadway was a good bit narrower than it is in the picture below and I feared that the car was going to pitch over and roll down the steep slope on the other side of the road. Trying to sound calm, I told the boys to get out of the jeep -- on the upper side -- and go call their father and tell him what was happening.
The thing is, I was totally convinced that it was only my weight, there on the upper side of the jeep, that was keeping it from rolling over -- and I was afraid to try to back the car off the bank.
Soon the boys came out on the porch to say that Dad was on his way home and to ask if they could they make some popcorn. Which they did.
They even brought me some -- handed it in through the car window and returned to the rocking chairs on the porch to wait and see what would happen next.
"I broke all the speed limits getting home," he told me later. "I wasn't quite clear on what the situation was. And when I was coming up the road, I saw the kids on the front porch and their hands kept going up to their faces. It looked like they were crying and I was sure something terrible had happened.
"Then as I got closer, I saw that the car was still there and you were still there. . . and they were eating popcorn."
(And what about the teetering jeep?
No tow trucks, tractors, chains, or come-alongs were needed -- John took a look at the jeep, shook his head, and told me to get out. He climbed in, backed the jeep down off the bank, and very kindly didn't tell me I was an idiot.)
30 comments:
...oh how funny. Loved the presentation. And I enjoyed my glass of wine during the read. Your husband sounds like a gem!
What a wonderful story Vicki; it's the everyday stuff that life is made of!
Great story!!!
It is a wonderful story, you made me laugh, but it can't have been at all funny for at the time! A great memory.
Love your photos.
It can happen to the best of us. I drove a lorry for ten years, and I can tell you, I got into some pretty tight situations at times.
Wonderful story - reminds me of the final scenes of The Italian Job
I enjoyed your story over my morning cup of coffee and it brought back memories of a similar incident involving me and my boys years back on a mountain road leading to our new home. I can laugh about it now, but back then it was the scariest thing that had ever happened to me, and probably still is!
Vicki,I'm not going to laugh because this sounds suspiciously like something I would do. But, the boys watching you from the porch while eating popcorn is just hilarious!!
You handled the whole event beautifully, considering you were in fear for your life, and the lives of your sons.
I'm glad your husband didn't tell you you were an idiot.
The feeling of "imminent peril" is different to different people, and mostly depends on where they sit.
I love it! I will likely think of this the next time I eat popcorn. Also, a great reminder to us all that things are often not as they first appear. :)
oh my...how funny...lol. snow is supposed to start here tonight...and snow cream is definitely on the menu if it comes...
That was too funny. Thinking they were crying when they were just stuffing popcorn in their mouths. So funny.
That's it!! The story I will likely think of whenever I eat popcorn, forever after. I got so tickled when you first told this, my stomach hurt from laughing. But you know, if you're going to sit in the rocker and watch your Momma dangling off the side of a cliff, well, you may as well have some popcorn to munch on. LOL! Thanks for telling this one again, it's a great story for a snowstorm.
Great story, Vicki - someday I will tell you the story about us backing down Horse Knob - Let's just say that I learned that there is only one 4-wheel drive tow truck in all of Madison County!! I cannot believe how much snow you have - glad to see the power is on!
LOL I'm impressed that you actually ate some popcorn, too! Thanks for sharing another delightful story...
Oh, that was a great story! Your husband was very kind not to tease you about it. But, tell me, has he done so since then?
Quickly, before reading your post:
my last poem is based on a french proverb:
"Noël au balcon,
Pâques au(x )tison(s)." =
"Warm Christmas means a cold Easter".
My dictionnary says: "tison": "ember", "brand"
Then, "tisonner"=to poke, to stir (the fire)
So, at a glance of your photos, I guess you have to poke (to stir ) the fire -with a poker(un tisonnier)!!!
Great contrast betwween black and white!
Thank you for your translation!
Thanks for the laugh this morning, Vicki! Loved it, and it's something I would have probably done too. The absolute hysterical part is how the boys handled it. Make some popcorn and see what kind of show Mom puts on. Of course the clincher was when they handed some in to you. Loved it.
Tammy
Great story. Better safe than sorry, as they say. And sounds like you have a very kind husband, since there is plenty of mileage ('scuse the pun) for teasing you in that tale.
Snow cream sounds ace - though round here it might be snow, cream and atmospheric pollution - not so nice!
Wonderful story of a heroic mom, who stayed calm in the face of certain peril!
What a huge dump of snow! Wonderful story. Glad they were eating popcorn, instead of crying!
Great story! -- barbara
What a great story. Amazing how we lose all sense of proportion when caught in a situation like that. We're snowed in too, and likely will be for several more days given the low temperatures.
But did he ever let you forget the story?
Vicki...........this tale illustrates how you and John have lasted so long.......mutual wit and respect, as well as the willingness to bite your tongue!
Oh, I love this story, not that any of us would have similar tales to tell... love the boys sitting in the rockers eating popcorn, like watching a movie. Would love to have heard their conversation while sitting there.
My kind husband doesn't have to remind me of this -- I remember it well. And as Anonymous said, yes, mutual respect and the willingness to bite one's tongue go a long way to explaining why we're still together after 47 years of marriage.
The whole incident was just bizarre. I kinda knew I'd over-reacted but on the other hand... And I totally loved the fact that the kids didn't freak out.
I'm going to have to look for THE ITALIAN JOB, Alan -- I don't know that.
Liz, the first year we were here, we and our vistiors required a tow truck so many times that we considered putting Howard Allen, the tow truck guy, on retainer. There was a particularly narrow spot in the driveway that
caught unwary drivers time and time again.
You really are a wonderful story teller Vicki!
Too funny. I would love the mountains but those steep drop offs would be a constant freak out for me.
Love your header.
Oh that so sounds like something I would do : ) This afternoon Hubby took my car down the drive for the first time since it snowed-I ran and hid and made the girls watch to makes sure he didn't wreck : )
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