Safe, sound, and curled up in a hotel bed where I have every intention of passing out far too early this evening.
Traveling is exhausting.
Truthfully though, I had a pretty smooth day all around. My layover in Seattle was perfectly timed so that I literally got off one plane and onto the next, and there weren’t any real bumps in the road to getting where I needed to be tonight.
Except for the bumper to bumper traffic that is. But really – that’s my bad. I’m the one who came up with the brilliant plan to fly into San Francisco instead of San Jose because it was cheaper, without realizing that this plan of mine was going to land me smack dab in the middle of rush hour traffic for the drive to San Jose.
Yep. Moving about 5 mph for a while there. On roads I’ve never really driven before - so I had no idea how long this was going to take.
Because the last time I was in Northern California, I was probably about 12.
It was fine though. As soon as I realized that things would be slow going for a while (I seriously forget what real traffic looks like living in Alaska!) I pulled off the freeway and found myself a Taco Bell and a Trader Joes.
I am sad to report that the Taco Bell was awful. As much as I think I love that place, I am so often disappointed. Why do I keep going there at all? As soon as I finished eating I drove past and In & Out and was immediately sad.
Buyer’s Remorse.
I plan on making up for it by driving 30 minutes to find a Sonic tomorrow though. And then, I promise – I will make this trip about more than fast food restaurants!
That wasn’t the big buyer’s remorse of the day though.
No, the big disappointment actually came in the form of my rental car.
You see, when the woman at the car rental place was setting me up, she said I had a choice.
I could have a shiny yellow bug, or a blue Aveo.
I have to admit; I was immediately in love with the bug. It was just so gosh darn cute, and I could see myself whipping through the California streets in it feeling all adorable and hip and fun.
(Courtesy of Google Images)
I wanted that car.
Especially because it was yellow. When I was growing up, I became convinced that I wanted a yellow Mustang. I talked about it and talked about it until I truly believed my dad was going to get me one for my 16th birthday.
And he did.
On my 16th birthday my father gift wrapped for me a yellow mustang small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.
WAH-WAH-WAH
My entire life though, I’ve always owned and driven sensible cars. I am Honda loyal and loved the Civic I had for 7 years almost as much as I’ve loved the CR-V I’ve had for the last 3.
I drive sensible.
But that bug? It was just cute. Adorable.
And yellow.
Still… Something held me back. I don’t even know what. I was sitting there coveting that yellow bug even as I told the sales girl that I wasn’t picky and that I would take the Aveo.
I cannot even begin to explain that logic. I think I was embarrassed by how much I wanted the bug. Embarrassed by how much the pretty yellow paint job appealed to me.
And so, I bypassed it completely.
Kicking myself from that point forward. Wondering as she wrote out the paperwork if I could change my mind. If I should speak up now. Or now. Or now.
Until it was too late.
I drove off the lot completely unsure of why I hadn’t picked out the car I wanted. When she had so clearly given me a choice. When it would have been so easy to say “I want the yellow bug.”
I’m pretty sure there is a lesson to be learned somewhere, but really; I’m just annoyed with myself.
And the Chevy Aveo.
(Courtesy of Google Images)
Buyer’s remorse.
Just small potatoes in the grand scheme of things though I suppose.
I am here. I am safe. And I have a perfectly reliable Chevy Aveo to get me around town until my loved ones start filtering in.
C'est la vie.
