Have you ever looked at the clock and realized you were already supposed to be leaving for an appointment? I glanced at my phone, saw the reminder, and thought, “Oh, crap!”
I wasn’t even close to ready. I rushed into the bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face, comb my hair, and throw on some clothes. The dogs immediately assumed we were all going somewhere. The second I start getting ready, they think it’s time for a truck ride. Unfortunately for them, I was leaving alone.
That’s when Operation Leave the House kicked into full gear.
Before I could walk out the door, Teddy had to be separated from the Lollipop Guild. The little ones absolutely adore him, but they’re young, wild, and convinced enthusiastic greetings are a full-contact sport. Teddy’s old body just can’t keep up with that kind of enthusiasm anymore.
JoJo stays with Teddy in the dining room, and the three little hooligans stay in the kitchen. At least…that was the plan. Instead, the whole thing turned into a game of Whac-A-Mole.
I’d get one dog where I wanted him, another would pop up somewhere else, and just when I thought everyone was behind the gates, somebody had slipped through. I’m still not convinced they weren’t taking turns just to mess with me.
Eventually…
Gate one.
Gate two.
Gate three.
Then came my pre-departure inspection. Are there any dish towels hanging off the kitchen island? Because if there are, Buster will pull one down and shred it before I get home. Is the bathroom door closed? Because if it isn’t, I’ll come home to toilet paper confetti and a bathroom garbage can that looks like it exploded.
The Lollipop Guild’s accommodations had been thoroughly inspected. TV on. Toy basket stocked. Beds fluffed. Water bowls full. Snacks strategically dispersed. Toys and chew bones in place.
Honestly, they have a better setup than some hotels. Of course, that’s when Milo slipped through the gate and joined Teddy and JoJo.
Back I went.
Let’s just say I wasn’t using my Sunday church voice while encouraging him to return to the kitchen. Finally…everyone was where they were supposed to be. I made it outside. I got to the truck. No keys.
Well…crap.
Back to the house. Unlock the door. Grab the keys. Then I realized I’d also forgotten my emotional support cup. If you know me, you know my Yeti full of tea goes pretty much everywhere I do.
The dogs were thrilled to see me. For about three seconds. Then they realized I was leaving again and looked at me through the gates like they were starring in an ASPCA commercial.
Cue the Sarah McLachlan background music.
I headed back outside, set my tea on the little table so I could lock the door…and completely missed the table.
Tea and ice everywhere. I just stared at it for a second.
F-it. It’s hot outside. It’ll dry.
Future Erica can deal with it. So back inside I went. Refilled my tea. Grabbed my purse. Grabbed my keys. Grabbed my emotional support cup.
Finally, I backed out of the driveway…I’m on my way…until road construction. At that point, I just laughed. I opened the sunroof, cranked the radio as loud as it would go, and started belting out Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer.
“Whoa…we’re halfway there…”
I wasn’t…but according to the clock, I should’ve been. A few years ago, that whole morning would’ve ruined my day. I’d have been frustrated with the dogs. Mad at myself for running late. Annoyed that I spilled my tea. Complaining about the construction.
Instead, between the chaos, Bon Jovi, and the orange barrels, I took a breath.
Maybe I should have managed my time better. Or maybe all those little delays slowed me down for a reason. Maybe they changed absolutely nothing. Or maybe they kept me from being somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be.
I’ll never know. But I did know this. I got to choose what happened next. I could have let every inconvenience ruin my day and affect how I showed up in the world…
…or I could laugh at the circus that is sometimes my life, take a breath, and decide that wasn’t how my story was going to be written that day.
Maybe that was the gift. I think that’s something good to carry into this week.
Anyway…off we go. 
Have a great week, friends
© Erica Shoemaker | Anyway… Off We Go
