Sorry, Sam

I learned something about myself this morning. I am able to complete one unselfish act a day - and then I'm done.

We got up this morning, ready for the play gym. When I went to start the car it was snowing. I am completely unreasonable when it comes to driving in the snow. At the mere mention of flurries, I am too terrified to get in a car. It is beyond being uncomfortable - it is one of my many, genuine, phobias.

This morning I decided I was going to make myself suck it up. I kept telling myself that people drive in snow all the time. And look where I live, for pete's sake! If I can't drive in a little snow to get my kid to the gym, I'm a sorry mom, indeed.

So we packed up and headed out. It was a little slippery and I was afraid. However, snow always makes me afraid, so I continued to try to talk myself out of it. I was talking to my sister on the phone, filling her in on my new determination to not be scared of driving in snow. She said, "I am happy for you, and completely support you, but you DO know there are snow advisories out, right?"

Right then, the car in front of me slid off the road and got stuck on an icy snowbank on the sidewalk. I got off the phone with Jackie and pulled over to help. It was an older woman, who was simply annoyed by this turn of events. I pushed her car as she revved the engine, trying to get it unstuck. Eventually another man stopped to help. I let the woman use my phone to call her son and two city trucks pulled up. After about 20 minutes in the freezing snow, she was back on the road.

Sam was sitting in my car this whole time, watching with great interest. I got in and went right back home. I was in no mood to take him to the gym after helping someone off a sidewalk.

I knew there was a reason I stayed home on snowy days!