Okay, I know my title looks rather strange...but if you read this post, you'll understand! ~ Being a true Southerner, I LOVE fried okra, and back in January decided I was really hungry for some. One Sunday afternoon my son Steven needed to work on a school project at a friend's house, so we decided I would pick up some fried chicken and okra (he loves it too) on my way back to get him after the project work was finished. It was a blustery cold January afternoon, and I was really looking forward to getting back home and "digging in" to that yummy meal. ~ I had driven Steven to this particular friend's house on several occasions, so I knew right where the boy lived. As I was heading down the street, I called on my cell phone to let Steven know I was there, but the boys weren't quite finished yet. I told him it was no problem---I had a book to read in my car, and they could take their time (after all, I certainly wanted them to get a good grade on this project!). I pulled down into the circular driveway of the boy's house and turned off my car. I noticed two other vehicles parked in the driveway too and assumed they belonged to other boys working on the project. Since I was parked about ten feet in front of a large window, I knew it would be easy for Steven to glance out and see just where I was parked. ~ I bundled up in my winter coat and opened up my new copy of Tamera Alexander's wonderful book From A Distance (which, by the way, is awesome--in case you haven't read it. Tammy is a super-talented Christian author!!). As I began reading, I decided to go ahead and munch on some fried okra....the aroma had been tempting me! I was quite content, all cozy as I read and munched away on the fried okra. ~ About ten minutes later my cell phone rang, and it was Steven. "Mom, where are you?" I immediately figured he and his friends were trying to play a joke on me, as if they couldn't see my car right there in front of a window! I calmly replied I was sitting in his friend's driveway, waiting for him. "Mom, no you're not." Okay, I guess these boys were going to be persistent in trying to fool me today. "Honey, I'm sitting right here just ten feet in front of their house." After a slight pause, Steven's voice calmly spoke. "Mom, you're at a house down the street. Just stay where you are and I'll walk to your car." WHAT??!! Sure enough, I glanced back up the street and saw my son, walking in the howling January wind down the street to meet me, and I wondered ---WHOSE house was I parked in front of? I immediately put my van in reverse and backed out of the driveway, running over the curb in the process. Without a word, I picked Steven up at the curb, and scooted out of that neighborhood. HOW had I gone to the wrong house? And what must those people have thought, if they glanced out their front window and saw a STRANGER sitting in their driveway, reading a book and eating fried okra?! Thankfully Steven didn't question me or make any comments about what I'd done---I guess he's used to his mother by now. Besides, he was hungry and enjoyed getting started on the fried chicken and okra as I drove us back home. ~ How do I do such silly things sometimes? I honestly don't mean to - - these things just happen to me. ~ Lately I've been thinking perhaps I should buy one of those bumper stickers that reads: Embarrassing my children.....Just one more service I offer : )
