A few days before we were trading our Toyota Highlander Hybrid in for a Toyota Sienna minivan, I took the girls into New York City to see a friend.

I was driving around her neighborhood, trying to find the best priced parking garage when I came across one of those New York City road challenges. Today’s urban challenge: Can I fit between this double parked garbage truck and this big blue van?

No problem.

And by no problem, I mean, if I didn’t care about the paint job on the right side of my car.

Oh crap. As if they won’t notice this at the dealership when we trade our car in in a COUPLE DAYS.  So I parked my Highlander and then went to survey the damage I had done to the van. Yup, pretty much scraped up that sucker too.

I was in the middle of writing a note to leave on the van’s windshield when the driver walked up. I explained the situation and he responded, “Wow. People hit me all the time. You’re the first person to ever leave a note.”

I wondered if it was too late to rip up the note, pretend I didn’t speak English and run like mad in the other direction. But you just know Summer and Dylan would have slowed me down because they needed a snack or something. And I do really believe in good karma. And doing the right thing.

My husband took the news of the incident quite well and we made an appointment to fix the car the next day. Of course, he forbid me from blogging about it because he was worried the deal would fall through if the dealership found out about the accident and you know how those Toyota dealers are obsessed with reading the humor parenting blogs.

I felt pretty guilty about the whole incident (because what a stupid waste of money) until a few days later when my husband lit our entire grill on fire and almost burned down our rental house.  Yes, that’s right. Big flames. Fire extinguisher. Almost called 911. And why did this happen?

He hadn’t cleaned out the drip tray under the grill in SIX years.

Because I am forever the supportive wife I asked, “Did you take photos?”

“Of the fire?” my husband asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“I was a little busy trying to make sure I didn’t burn down the house.”

“I appreciate the effort to protect our home and our children but next time, take a few shots on your iPhone. It would only take a second or two. Blogs are very visual.”

Anyway, we got the grill and the car fixed and then it was time to say goodbye to my Highlander.

Since you’re wondering, I’ll just tell you. It wasn’t a french kiss. I don’t believe in open mouth kissing when it comes to cars.

And then we welcomed our new minivan…

The thing feels like a sports car. A really big, hard to park, not so sleek sports car. Well, at least it has that new car smell.

Except it doesn’t. Because it’s a 2010 pre-owned car. So it does have the less popular yet still pleasing pre-owned, just cleaned smell.

Ok, so at least we got some cash back on the trade in. You know, to cover the cost of unintended grill fires and fender benders.

The kids love the minivan.

And if those Toyota Sienna commercials are any indication, someday soon I am going to love my sweet minivan ride.

mama bird notes:

I don’t even know how to explain my gratitude for all the comments on my last post, “Apparently I’m Killing Feminism.” All of your comments were so funny and beautiful and incredible. Some of them brought me to tears and I’m definitely not a crier. Ask my husband. He’s the one who gets misty-eyed during “Parenthood.”

Some of the comments made me laugh so hard that my belly was shaking uncontrollably which isn’t actually all that attractive. You proved that feminism is about supporting other women, not ripping them apart. I just want to say thank you to everyone for the overwhelming outpouring of support. You made me feel like my writing matters in different ways to each of you. And I am incredibly grateful. xo

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