“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America is intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!” – Matt
BEING LOCKED TO YOUR CAR
I was sweating, scared, and dumbfounded as to what I should do next. My finger was locked in the door of our 1974 Chevy Nova. Sitting in the car waiting for my Mom shopping in the drug store, I had gotten bored and decided to go in and see what was taking so long. I got out of the car and pushed down the lock knob. I slammed the long, heavy door shut with my right hand, but had left my left hand on the edge of the door frame, slamming my pinkie in the door. I didn’t even know I had even done it until I felt a jerk on my arm as I began walking to the store – the nerve was pinched.
I started to panic. It didn’t hurt, but I was stuck in the parking lot. It must have been quite a sight! I was grateful to finally see a woman coming out of the store. When I explained what happened, she went hysterical. I managed to calm her down and send her in search of my mom. Mom arrived and opened the car door, bringing feeling back to the pinched and mangled finger – Oooouch! Mom got me to a nearby doctor and Grandma met us there. My grandma tried to smile and tell me everything was alright as the doctor tried to reconnect everything, but she accidentally looked at my pinkie and immediately threw up. It didn’t help reassure me, but through good medical care, it recovered almost completely.
A couple decades later, I was overseas at the car dealership getting our vehicle serviced. I managed to lock myself out of the car. I wasn’t happy, but not upset either, as nothing is as bad as getting locked TO a car. I asked the technician to open the car, and he surprised me by saying that he couldn’t open it, as he didn’t have the key code. He went to his computer to see what window was the cheapest to break and replace. He proceeded to hit that window a dozen times before he managed to break it and get out the key.
I now hide a key in a little magnetic box under our vehicle. I also am extra careful before closing car doors. Home side mishaps have helped me to avoid greater ones overseas, where it is more complicated to get resolved.
Something similar ever happen to you? Contact me and let me hear your story!
mattsmishaps@gmail.com Matt’s Mishaps, PO BOX 114, Grabill, IN 46741
