Patience is a Virtue

We're having trouble with our tires. I have shelled out more quarters for air this summer than a normal human being should have to in their entire life. We thought the problem was fixed a month ago when we took the car in to have the tires fixed. This week, the problem recurred.

So, knowing that we need to have the car fixed before our long drive to the pumpkin farm this weekend, I volunteered to take it in to have them re-fix the problem. My husband estimated that it shouldn't take too long since they already know what the problem is. There is a McDonald's next store to the tire repair place, so here was the plan...

• Drop off the car at the tire store shortly before lunch.


• Shop for shoes for the kids in Sears since it is next door.


• Walk to McDonald's to have lunch with the kids.


• Pick up the car.


• Go home.


• Nap time.

Here is what the day looked like...

• Drop off the car at the tire store shortly before lunch.


• Shop for shoes for the kids.


• Buy shoes for the kids.


• Walk to McDonald's.


• Eat lunch.


• Take a trip to the bathroom.


• Take a walk around the strip mall.


• Take a long rest on the park bench.


• Walk around Sears.


• Test out all the riding lawn mowers.


• Walk around Sears some more.


• Play with all the pillows in the bedding department.


• Walk around Sears some more.


• Pick out paint sample chips.


• Walk around Sears some more.


• Look in every. single. washer, dryer, and refrigerator in the appliance department.


• Walk around Sears some more.


• Dance to the music videos being played on the 20+ big screen TVs.


• Walk around Sears some more.
• Take another trip to the bathroom.
• Walk around Sears some more.


• Test out the exercise equipment.


• Bandage Mommy's bloody foot that got smooshed by a little girl on said equipment.


• Walk around Sears some more.


• More paint chips.


• More TV.


• More lawn mowers.


• More pillows.


• Did I mention we walked around Sears?!?!?!?


• Pick up car. (3 hours later!)


• Go home.


• Nap time.


• Be greeted by grateful husband bearing a Mocha Blast.


• Enjoy every last sip.

The kids were amazingly well behaved. I felt like I was in some really bad dream where you just can't leave the mundane. I felt like I was in the movie The Terminal or Groundhog Day.

So, what did I learn? Don't trust a mechanic who says, "Eh, it should take us about an hour.

More importantly, I learned how important it is to show your appreciation. All that waiting was so worth it because my hubby truly appreciated the fact that I did it. The Mocha Blast was a nice touch but hearing him say how bad he felt about how long it took and how tough it must have been for the kids made it all worth it.

And, as an added bonus, tomorrow morning we can sleep in since he won't have to rush the car in to get fixed before we begin our busy day. That is, if the kids let us!