Category: Family

Family

AM I THE ONLY ONE . . . who appreciates AAA?

Donna Chandler

By:  Donna Hale Chandler

 Many years ago, my daughter and I were driving to Michigan from Florida.  We weren’t even out of Florida when one of the rear tires shredded, sending strips of rubber flying in every direction.  As I steered over to the side of the road, cars behind us were trying to dodge this flying debris.  Fortunately, there were no accidents and no one was injured.

 Once I stopped and caught my breath, I got out my AAA card and called the number on the back, I was told that someone would soon be there to help us.  As we waited, a state police officer pulled behind us to see if we needed help.  I explained that I had called AAA and they would be arriving.  Shortly thereafter, a AAA truck appeared.  A nice man got out, introduced himself, and asked if I had a spare.  I told him I thought it was probably a baby tire but wasn’t sure.  His response was, “Well, let’s check.”

 The trunk was filled with suitcases, souvenirs, and various odds and ends from our vacation, totally burying the spare tire.  However, without batting an eye, the young man took everything out and checked the spare.  Sure enough, it was a ‘baby tire’.  He offered to put that on for us, but cautioned us not to go over 50 miles per hour and that this tire would only last long enough for us to get to a tire store.

 Seeing the look of concern on my face, the young man offered a solution.  “My uncle owns a shop not far from here.  I could tow your car to him and I bet he could sell you a tire.” Thankful for the offer, we quickly agreed, and after loading our car behind the wrecker, the young man opened the passenger door for my daughter and me.

 We took the next exit, but I became concerned when he turned onto a two-lane road that seemed to be taking us out into the country.  What was I thinking, getting into the truck with a stranger?  Where was he taking us?  I asked him, “How much longer?” and he replied, “Not far.”

 “Not far” turned into several miles. I was starting to wonder if I had made a terrible mistake. However, the driver kept up friendly dialog so I kept telling myself everything would be just fine (though I wasn’t sure I believed it.)

 At last, we pulled into a run-down mechanic’s garage.  An older gentleman came out to meet us and assured us that he could replace our tire quickly and for us to “have a seat in the waiting room while he worked.”

 The waiting room was small but reasonably clean, so we settled in for what I assumed would be a long boring wait.  I noticed a bulletin board filled with cards and notes, and couldn’t resist the temptation to read what was posted so publicly.  To my surprise, the notes were thank you’s, written by out-of-towners who had been similarly stranded.  This little garage had gotten each of them back on the road, and quickly headed to their destination.  I can’t explain the sense of relief I felt as I read these short letters. I dug in my purse for a scrap of paper to write down the address of this little out-in-the-boondocks garage. I made a mental note to write my own thank you, to be added to this history bulletin board of the people he had helped.

Shortly, we were safely back on the road.  I should have known that AAA would never let me down.

I’ve made it a priority to renew my subscription every year since.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Please check us out… Kindle versions of our books are available at only 99 cents.

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Family

AM I THE ONLY ONE . . . who makes the same New Year’s Resolution year after year?

Donna Chandler

Yes, I make the same resolution every year and I am going to continue to make the same resolution until I get it right or die, whichever comes first.

My resolution:  Take better care of my mental health.  This may sound easy but believe me it is not.  There are so many things I need to do, such as:

  • Stop dealing with toxic people.  Those who hurt my feelings, talk behind my back, ignore me, etc. do not deserve my attention. Surround myself with those who are kind, considerate and respectful.  (Believe me, they are out there)
  • Let go of the past.  Stop thinking about what I ‘should’ have done.  Convince myself that ‘at the time’ I did my best and let go of the could’a, should’a would’a, feelings.  Days gone by are over.  Let them go.
  • Don’t worry about things that I cannot change.  Yes, the world is a mess.  Fretting and stewing about it doesn’t change a thing.
  • Stop saying ‘yes’ when asked for a favor.  I’m not good at saying no to people so I need to shine up my backbone and start saying, “Sorry, that doesn’t work for me.”
  • Trust my adult children to make good choices.  Let them ‘figure it out’ and know that they can do this because they are ‘good people’ raised by ‘good parents’.

To put every thing in a nutshell.  I need to learn to live everyday as if it is my last – because it might very well be.   I resolve to find happiness each day, be thankful for those around me who love me and let them know how much I love and appreciate them. I will laugh more and frown less.  I will live my best days as I enter my sunset years.

WISHING EVERYONE A TRULY HAPPY 2024. 
ENJOY THE JOURNEY, EVEN WHEN THERE ARE BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are both writers.  Please check us out at:

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Kindle versions of most of our books are available at only 99 cents

Family

AM I THE ONLY ONE . . .who sees Christmas as a season of love?

Donna Chandler

I was trying to come up with something clever that tied into the holidays when I ran across this poem that I wrote several years ago. It isn’t Christmasy but it is a reminder that we need to let those we love know how much they are loved and cherished.

Having said that, Gentlemen, take heed, could your special lady be feeling this way?

WHY DOES HE LOVE HER?

Does he love her because
she’s charming and witty?
Or maybe it’s because
she’s caring and pretty.

Does he love her because
she’s comfortable to be around?
Old shoes are comfortable
and there’s plenty to be found.

Does he truly see her?
Does he know the color of her eyes?
Does he know when she’s sad?
Does he know how hard she tries?

Does he really hear her
during each conversation?
Or perhaps he’s thinking
about his next vacation.

Does he tell her he cares
or just assume she knows?
Would he think it’s silly
to present her a single rose?

Does he know of her hunger
to be needed and desired?
Is she always in his thoughts
even when he’s weary and tired.

Why does he love her?
Does she know the reason?
Perhaps he should tell her
Before the passing of the season.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are both writers.  Please check us out at:

amazon.com/author/richard-lee-king/
amazon.com/author/donnachandler

Kindle versions of most of our books are available at only 99 cents.

Family, Humorous

AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO . . . has witnessed a bank robbery?

Donna Chandler

Quite a few years ago (more years than I’d like to admit) I was a bank branch manager in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The day started out much like every other.

There were 4 tellers, all at their stations, behind bullet-resistant glass.  My desk, on the other hand, sat at the end of the lobby, no walls, no door, no bullet-resistant glass.  The morning had been rather slow when I heard a voice say ‘Give me all the money.”  I looked up, rather annoyed, because I didn’t think this joke was very funny.  It only took a few seconds to realize that this was not a joke.  There was a young man at the first teller window and he repeated, “Give me all the money.”

My first thought was to try to make myself invisible as I sat there in plain sight with no protection around me.  Since that was impossible, my second thought was to sit very still and perhaps he wouldn’t notice me.  As I reached under my desk to push the silent alarm button, I noticed for the first time, the young woman at the second teller window.

I practiced my best mind control to send her a message to be quiet and not do anything crazy.  I watched in horror as she slowly began backing away from the window toward the entrance.  I kept thinking, “no, no, don’t move. Don’t startle him.”  It was impossible for me to tell whether or not he had a gun but I assumed he did.  I held my breath as the young woman finally reached the entrance.

Once at the door, she turned, slammed the door open and began screaming.  This caught the attention of the robber as he stuffed money into his pockets.  He quickly turned and ran for the door also.  I immediately got up to lock the front door, as we’d been instructed to do if ever robbed.  Peeking out I saw no sign of the young man but I did spot the young woman, running down the middle of the busy street, screaming and waving her arms.

For some reason, the police never responded to our silent alarm.  All employees automatically began the robbery procedures that were reviewed every month.  Without talking to each other, every employee began writing down a description of the young man while I called the main office to report what happened.

I first called 911 and then our main office to report to them what happened, and the officer there called the FBI

The FBI showed up at the wrong bank and completely confused the staff there when they came barreling in to investigate a robbery.  By the time the FBI found their way to our branch, the guy had already been caught and was sitting in the back of the police car for the teller to identify him.

It seems the man had just been released from jail, which was just a few blocks from the bank.  He didn’t have any money so he walked to the first bank he came to, robbed it, and then walked up the street.  The police said it was once of the easiest capture of a bad guy that they had made for quite a while.

I never received an explanation as to why there was no response to our alarm, even though I pushed my button as did the tellers. Perhaps for Christmas we should have given the police officers a course on responding to alarms and given to the FBI a map so they can find their way to the next robbery.

P.S. I’ve often wondered what happened to the screaming woman in the street and how far she had to run before someone called the men in the white coats to escort her to a padded cell. 

©Donna Hale Chandler

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Please check us out at:   
amazon.com/author/richard-lee-king/
amazon.com/author/donnachandler

Kindle versions of our books are available at only 99 cents.