Crap Crap Crap! Once again, my best laid plans turn out to be neither my best, nor well laid. I had to get the tires on my wife’s car replaced, and knowing full well that this would bite into my busy day, I opt’d to make ever effort to be first in line at Costco and get through the whole process as quickly as possible, using the waiting time to work remote from a coffee shop right next door.
I took time last night to ready the car, set out my clothes, and line everything up for an early departure. Their tire shop opens at 9, but I got there at 8.20, and nobody else showed up to get in line behind me until 8.40. Then, at 8.50, they opened early. I paid for my tires and was told ’40 minutes’. SWEET! I gave them the key, removed my briefcase, and left it unlocked. I even set the timer on my iPhone to 40 minutes!
I walked across the parking lot to a Starbucks, proceeded to deal with emails and such, and at the 35min mark, I headed back to get my car. I was tickled to think that I’d actually make it to work in time for an important meeting, which I’d not anticipated happening under the best of conditions.
I love it when things work out as planned!
But, it seemed odd that my car was still in the same parking space. However, since they’re reserved for the Tire center, I rationalized that it just got parked back there by coincidence. Parked exactly as I’d left it. I mean, it could happen, right?
Not in this case.
When I went to the counter, they said they could not start it, that the alarm went off, and the key would not work. They needed the key fob for the alarm. “But, I left it unlocked” I said. I was completely perplexed and disappointed to find that while I was across the street, assuming all was under way, and that I’d made every effort to ensure things went smoothly, including that the car was unlocked, they were not able to do a single thing but wait for my eventual return.
When I went to the car and pressed the button on the remote, it ‘chirped’ the unlocking chirp.
I *SWEAR* I left it unlocked.
Sincerely. I am so certain I locked it. I can’t imagine how this came to be. I LEFT IT UNLOCKED! It was a conscious action. I would have put big bucks on that. I’d have bet anything I’d locked it. And I guess, in a way, it turns out I did. In my life, time IS money, and I lost time today, so I lost money. I lost the bet. And all the efforts that went into this were scattered to the wind when I opt’d to take the key-fob with me in order to be able to unlock it myself and remove the bag.
I hope i remember this fiasco the next time around.
And again, as stated previously, I remain available for children’s parties.