Always Be Prepared

My dad dropped little pearls of wisdom for his children throughout our lives, and like most kids, we took some to heart and we let some just escape right out the other ear. One of the most important, though, is to always be prepared. Think through the things that might happen and plan for emergencies. You never know when something is going to go wrong. To that end, I always have a coat (even in summer), first aid kit, tools, and jumper cables in my truck. Just in case. I'll bet that all of my other siblings do the same. It seems, however, that my dad is not too confident that his advice has been heeded as evidenced by a recent email conversation:

After seeing this article in the news: http://www.wbap.com/Article.asp?id=574961&spid=6051, Dad: See why I say take a coat/clothes fitting for the weather outside even though it's comfortable in the car? And why I carry cold weather clothes in the trunk during winter. If this should happen to us, ya'll would riot on me to get MY warm clothes when I'm the ONLY one who came prepared. ROFL

Lynn: OK, I being your wife who travels EVERYWHERE with you know you carry a coat in the winter everywhere we go but other than your golf clubs that stay in the trunk of your car year round, I would like to know exactly what clothes you're talking about that we would be rioting on you for. I really don't think those golf clubs will wear too well or keep you too warm, but hey if you think so you can have them! I promise not to riot on you for them, they really won't accent my figure much, and I need all the help I can get!

Dad: I'm talking about winter coat and insulated jump suit – camo, of course. LOL

Lynn: What jump suit? Used to have does not count!

Note that the siblings have been silent up to this point, but it's just hard to resist making fun of Dad.

Caci: So seriously Dad says he carries a jumpsuit in the car???? When did this start?

Michael: Well, he said it's camo.  Maybe that's why we can't see it.

Dad: Seriously, Ya'll don't remember when I used to carry that green camo insulated jump suit in the trunk? The one I would hunt in or wear to change the oil during the winter?

Lynn: It was tan

Caci: You hunted?  For what? A gas station?

At this point, Lynn tries to come to his rescue, but she can't resist joining in either.

Lynn: Well years ago he had that camo one he carried once or twice in case of an emergency. That was back when he was thin and could get in it. For the most part it stayed in the back of the closet for years.... and he would wear it when he worked on the car. You know back in the old days when he did that sort of stuff, before Michael enlightened him on job security. LOL. Anyway that thing has long since been given to Good Will

Caci: Obviously Dad may not even remember it.....he says it was green and Lynn says it was tan.....maybe green and tan=camo

Michael: I want to take us back to the part where we are going to riot to get his jumpsuit……that's at goodwill….and that he couldn't wear anyway…….while we are stuck on a snowy mountain road.

Lynn:
It was tan with brown spots. You know the green ones have green background and green spots and the tan have tan background and brown spots that is what is was and I know because I hated it and had to deal with it in my closet for all those years, and yes he thought it was the greatest thing. Don't you remember him wearing it and saying come on Lynn and Caci let me show you how to change the oil, you will need to do this one day because I will not ALWAYS be here to do it for you. HELLO! That is why they have Jiffy Lube!

 

Caci: Guys, the people at work are wondering why I keep laughing out loud at my desk!!!  Yes, I remember something about him wanting to teach us how to change the oil...AND a tire!  I think we thought of something better to do that day.....why didn't he just teach me how to parallel park....that would have been much more useful, huh Jeffrey??  (Jeffrey parallel parked my car for me at the movies when he was here....what a great gentlemen of a brother!)

 

Lynn: Need I remind you he is the champion of USELESS knowledge; hence he can only teach you useless stuff. Maybe your big brother should have jumped right in there and taught you how to parallel park since he has a little more useful knowledge.

 

Thanks, Lynn. Nice to know that someone out there respects the position of the oldest sibling.

Caci: Oh man...he [Dad] will be excited to see all of these emails at once!  And I am wondering why Michael or Jeffrey didn't teach me how to parallel park?????  Of course, Michael didn't pass his driver's test the first go around, so maybe that was it....

 

How did this get to be about me???

Lynn: He didn't? Maybe it is a good thing he didn't teach you. Although, I can't believe you haven't taught yourself. That means Michael can do something better than you. That is inconceivable! 

 

Thanks again, Lynn. But I did think this was supposed to be about Dad.

Caci: I don't know that Michael can parallel park....I have never seen him do it...so as far as I am concerned he can't do it better than me!!! LOL

 

Finally, Dad decided to check his email.

Dad: I haven't weighed in here b/c it's taken me 20 minutes to read all the emails and ROFLMBO. I can't believe my loving daughter never mentioned she couldn't parallel park while she was growing up or even while we were there in Dec. I would have been glad to teach her, like I taught her to drive a stick shift. Michael can't teach her to parallel park b/c he can't, that's why he bought a truck – so he could just drive over what's in front of him until he's even with the curb. LOL

Dad: BTW, where's Tooter in all of this?

Tooter is our brother Jeffrey.

Caci: I guess WORKING!! LOL none of the rest of us are though!

 

Lynn: Yeah, and on that note I have to get busy.  Love you all

 

No, I never did defend my ability to parallel park. I was actually in a conference call when they turned on me, so my response would not have been timely anyway. Oh well. Hope you enjoy!