December 10 - “One minor crisis”

After Chris and Christi shared Christmas present ideas (that’s a lot of Chrisses!), and Josiah got in one last game of basketball (video game against Zak), we finally got on the road around eleven. First stop was H-E-B for gas. Can’t mix up our routine too much. 

Except … since it was already lunchtime, Josiah directed us to his all-time favorite restaurant. Place called The Chicken Place in Marlin, Texas. It was only 20 or 30 minutes away. Really good food. Fried chicken livers. Yum. 

We did have one minor crisis just as we reached the intersection of 610 and I10 leading into downtown Houston. As we hit the curve, Chris’ cup of water teetered … and fell, essentially into her lap. 

Now did I fail to mention that the water therein was … cold? Quite cold. Ice cold. And as it slowly creeped under her leg, the sensation of cool, refreshing wetness began to fall over Chris’ consciousness. And oh-so-slowly did she find herself reacting to the liquid incursion, calmly requesting assistance in removing the offending container (now somewhat lighter by virtue of the untimely exit of its contents). And she further reminded her fellow passengers that perhaps one nearby would be so kind as to pass her the travel hand towels always kept within the confines of the car’s glove compartment. 

As always, overwhelmed with an insatiable desire to serve our driver, and being nearest to the glove box, I of course responded in a most methodical and controlled manner. I retrieved the towels and carefully handed them to her in the most propitious folding arrangement for absorbing errant spills. My demeanor remained one of calm and determination throughout the emergency. And once the towels were placed in their most advantageous position, Chris, with all the appreciation, yea, and love, that she could muster gently tapped me on the shoulder. Such affection. It was almost overwhelming. Isn’t it wonderful how two people married for almost 50 years can anticipate each other’s needs? 

Sigh. Would you like to know how it really went down?

The setting was correct. Freeway merge. Large curve. Downtown Houston. 

Indeed, the cup of water spilled onto Chris’ seat. And yes, it was cold. At that point the details may or may not have become a bit fuzzy. 

She realized the cup fell. She felt the cold. She sensed the wetness. She screamed. No sense of slow motion from here on out. Quite the contrary. Perhaps “frantic” might be an appropriate word. 

I grabbed the cup, indeed rescuing her. I passed it back to Josiah. Her screams continued, “It’s cold! It’s spreading!”   

At this point I may or may not have succumbed to a rather debilitating fit of laughter (Josiah managed to keep his amusement a bit more controlled).  Chris saw that I would need some assistance in forming a game plan moving forward. “Get me those towels! Both of them!”

Through my tears, I managed to comply. She stuffed them into place. I may or may not have redoubled my laughter. 

She pulled the towels back out and demanded, fold them so they will do better!”  I managed a reply, “What would ‘be better’ look like?” To which she intoned, “In half! Fold them in half!”

I managed to follow the instructions and return the towels to her. She seemed appeased at last. I was left to my snickering and occasional outbursts of gleeful laughter.

And during one of those outbursts, she managed to divert her Houston traffic focus long enough to deliver a well-placed smack to my poor, unsuspecting shoulder. 

OK. There you have it. Two different takes on the same event. Which do you believe? Or will you see fit to demand a word from that third person in the car? Josiah? What say ye?

Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭ says, He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Father, thank you for cool water and safe journeys.  Amen.