Jacqueline
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thread 1/9
In my 1st ever thread story, I told a tale of my own bravery (or foolishness, depending on your perspective). In the interest of balancing the universe, I will now be telling the tale of one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done. Buckle up.
09:39 PM - May 30, 2023
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Jacqueline
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thread 2/9
Some 20+ years ago, my husband decided to buy a scooter (moped). Don’t ask why, because it’s irrelevant and I still don’t have a good answer. He found one at a dealership some 30 plus miles from our home. Because of the distance, it was not possible to ride it home.
09:42 PM - May 30, 2023
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Jacqueline
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thread 3/9
So I arranged to borrow a large cargo van from a coworker. Late in the afternoon of the day we were scheduled to borrow the van, my husband had a work crisis (IT support) and had to stay late. Rather than reschedule the whole van borrowing and scooter pickup, I decided to do it by myself.
09:46 PM - May 30, 2023
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Jacqueline
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thread 4/9
My husband and I carpooled, so when I left him at work he was stranded. I picked up the van, drove to the dealership, and purchased the scooter. By the time the salesman had loaded it in the van, the dealership was closed. I started up the van, drove a few feet, gently applied the brakes, and…
09:51 PM - May 30, 2023
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Jacqueline
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thread 5/9
…the scooter rolled forward off the kickstand and tilted sideways, smashing one of the van windows. Now I’m in a van with a broken window and an unsecured scooter, in the parking lot of a now empty dealership. My husband is at work with no car, dealing with a crisis. So, what do I do?
09:55 PM - May 30, 2023
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Jacqueline
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thread 6/9
Naturally I called my mom. She promptly drove to the dealership. But how do we keep the scooter upright for the drive home? The salesman tied it down and he presumably knew better than us how to secure it. My 5’ 1”, 110 lb Mom straddled the scooter and “rode” it in the back of the van.
10:02 PM - May 30, 2023
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Jacqueline
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thread 7/9
For 45 minutes in the cold, with the wind blasting through the broken window. We took it home, unloaded it, and I returned it to my coworker’s house. I picked up my car and drove my mom back to the dealership for her car. Then I returned to work for my husband. I still remember the look on his face.
10:06 PM - May 30, 2023
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Jacqueline
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thread 8/9
My coworker, thankfully, thought the whole episode was hilarious and assured me that her insurance would cover the window. I gave her a gift certificate to a local steakhouse and a large box of nice chocolates. It’s not the only time my “I can handle this myself” attitude got me into trouble.
10:09 PM - May 30, 2023
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Jacqueline
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thread 9/9
But it’s definitely the most memorable. The best part, we still have the scooter. I think my husband rode it 2 or 3 times before it got parked in the garage, where it languishes to this day. I avert my eyes when I walk past it. Some memories never really fade.
10:12 PM - May 30, 2023
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