The Salesman

Tonight Jamie was needing to go to the gym to get in his workout.  So, rather than wait until the kids were in bed, I told him to go ahead and go.  I was going to give Anderson his bath and put him to bed.  We would be fine.  (right?)

So as Anderson played in the bath, I sat on the edge and helped Kinsley study for a test while Karlie played the iPad.  About 4 questions into studying, Anderson hands me something...nope not a toy...it was round and brown.  Yep, you got it.  He used the bathroom in the bathtub.  Then he was scared of it so he was screaming.  The girls were both laughing their heads off, and I was gagging.  I got him out of the tub, emptied and cleaned the tub, put the toys to disinfect, and put him back in the finish his bath. 

About this time the phone rings.  Kinsley runs to answer it and brings it to me.  I can tell as soon as I say "Hello" that it's a salesman or someone wanting money.  I usually just say "not interested" and hang up.  But before I could say anything, I hear her say "This recorded call is to raise money for (insert name here) breast cancer foundation.  Did you know, Mrs. Spears that someone dies every 12 minutes from cancer?" 

Hmmm...did I know that?  Not necessarily that specific statistic, but basically yes.  So I quietly answer "Yes." 

She continues, "And Mrs. Spears our foundation helps provide mammograms and screenings because early detection is key, don't you agree, Mrs. Spears?"

"Yes."

"Well then I am going to send you a car decal and an envelope with a pledge form in it.  Can we count on you this year to make a donation to this foundation, Mrs. Spears?"

I couldn't help it.  I don't know what it was inside me that made me say it.  I probably should have just said "Sure" and hung up.  But I didn't.

"Actually, I am going through treatments for Breast Cancer right now myself."

SILENCE.  (or maybe a few crickets).

I continued..."I'm 32 and I was just diagnosed in February with Stage 3."

"Ohhhh...Mrs. Spears I am so sorry.  Well I know you will be just fine.  Yes you will be cured.  Have a good night."

And she hung up.

I can't help but wonder if her method of "quoting statistics of how many people die every 12 minutes in order to get people to donate money" felt a little awkward on her next call. 

I know she is simply doing her job.  And I'm not upset or angry.  But in a weird way, I do find it comical that I made a salesman speechless...

It's not every day that happens, now is it?  ; )

A Locksmith, a Bride, a Cowgirl, and a Cowboy...

Yes- you guessed it...This post is devoted to Halloween 2012.  Kinsley was a bride, Karlie was a cowgirl, and Anderson was a cowboy.  So...where does the locksmith come in?  Jamie? No.  Me? No.  Hmmmm... How do I explain this?

Let me start by saying that I pulled onto our street Wednesday afternoon so that I could drop the girls off with Jamie before heading to radiation.  What I see when I get to the house- Jamie and his dad standing around a vehicle.  I'm not surprised, because one of the things Anderson loves to do is sit in a car and pretend he's driving.  However, when I notice that Jamie has a wire hanger in his hand I begin to get a little concerned.  When I roll down the window, Jamie informs me that Anderson has locked himself inside the vehicle and the keys are in it.  But he's laughing and doesn't seem too upset so I just shake my head and tell them I will be home as soon as radiation is over so we can get the kids in their costumes and ready to trick-or-treat. 

When I arrive home about 35 minutes later, everyone is in the house.  So I don't think much about it until I walk in and Karlie immediately says..."Nothing happened.  We didn't do anything wrong" - which is a big red flag that something DID happen.  I quickly find out that no one could get the door unlocked and when Anderson pushed the button, it was either the wrong button or wouldn't unlock.  So a neighbor called the police- but they wouldn't come because the car wasn't running.  Next she called the firestation which is about 1/4 of a mile from our house to see if they would help- "Is the car running?"  "No."  "Then we can't help."  So that last option...call a locksmith.  Yes, a locksmith had to come and get my child out of the vehicle. Thankfully, this company doesn't charge when there are children involved.  

Good grief.  Oh well.   They got him out and he wasn't too upset, so maybe he won't need too much therapy when he gets older. 

Despite that, this was the BEST Halloween ever!  No one cried or complained about their costumes or what they had to wear under it to keep warm.  No one fought.  No one whined about walking or their feet hurting.  We had a great night, got lots of candy, and then the girls sat on our front porch and handed out candy to other trick-or-treaters. 

Here are some pictures!  I hope you enjoy!