Hopefully Joie will never get a speeding ticket!
Last week at a chamber of commerce outing John and I attended the subject of getting speeding tickets came up. John, of course, recalled my speeding “incident” from a few years ago. It still makes him laugh to this day. I’m not sure I ever shared it on my blog before, so thought I would share my embarrassment. Maybe you could use a good laugh today.
When I first began doing presentations at school’s with Frankie I was, quite frankly, a nervous wreck. I tend to be an organized person and feel better when I can somewhat predict how everything is going to unfold.
This particular day I was scheduled to do two presentations for the school in my local hometown, Elkhart Lake. It was nice knowing I didn’t have far to drive as the school is only about a half mile from my house.
The first presentation wasn’t until mid-morning so I had plenty of time to relax and work on other things. Or so I thought. At 9:55am the phone rang. It was Laura, the school librarian.
“Hi Barb. We are just wondering if you are still planning on being here today with Frankie?”
“Yes, absolutely! We will be there around 10:15am.”
There was a small pause. “Well, I have you down for 10:00am.”
“Oh no! I’ll be right there!”
Luckily I always packed my car the night before so everything was ready to go. I grabbed Frankie, quickly put on her vest, ran out to the car, and plopped her in her car seat.
In total panic mode I sped down the main road of our little village. We only have one four-way stop and just as I was approaching it, I saw the local cop sitting on the corner on the left hand side of the road. I could see he had someone else in the car, but I wasn’t sure who it was.
As I tapped the brakes to slow my speed down, my heart started to race, and yes, I said, “Oh shit!” I then began praying like crazy, “please don’t pull me over. Please don’t pull me over.”
I came to the four way stop and just as I began crossing the intersection I saw the lights on top of the cop car go on. Yup, that four letter word came out of my yet again!
I rolled down my window as I came to stop (barely, as I was still slowly rolling) on the other side of the road from him.
Now don’t ask me who on earth I thought I was, but I yelled out the window to him, “I’m late for school. I can’t stop.” I then pointed to Frankie in the passenger side indicating I was taking Frankie to school…as if he knew exactly what I was up to. Not.
He was agitated and said, “Well get to school and I’ll follow you there.” And he did. I began praying again as I drove the speed limit this time, that he please not give me a ticket. After all I was doing a good deed, right? Taking Frankie to school and helping kids with their own challenges. I surely didn’t deserve a ticket.
As promised, he pulled up behind me as I got to school. Still in panic mode, I jumped out of my car, opened the back of my SUV and began pulling out my suitcase and books. I seriously didn’t have time for him to give me a ticket!
So he proceeds to tell me I was speeding. Surprise, right?
I said, “I know. I’m so sorry. I got the time wrong for my presentation today. I wasn’t thinking. I shouldn’t have been speeding.”
As I walked to the passenger side to get Frankie out, he followed me, writing away on his notepad. Ticket notepad, that is.
He said, “I’ll leave the ticket at the police station. You can pick it up after you are done here today and pay for it there.”
I wanted to say, “Oh goody!” But held my tongue and thanked him for letting me proceed onto my presentation for the day.
As I set up in the library I shared with Laura what had happened.
She said, “He won’t give you ticket, do you think?”
I was pretty sure I would have one waiting for me I told her.
During my second presentation with Frankie I noticed the cop in the back of the room. He is also the liason cop for the school so I didn’t panic. I just hoped maybe my message of being positive and making a difference would maybe, just maybe, melt his heart and he’d forgive my speeding.
Laura wished me luck after I finished up at school. Feeling nervous, but hopeful, I made my way to the police station which is only about a block from the school.
As I walked into the station I saw my neighbor who at the time was the police chief of our small village of 950 people.
I said, “I’m here to pay my ticket.” I was so embarrassed.
He smiled as he slid the ticket across the counter as I explained what had happened.
He told me he had wished he could dismiss the ticket, but he couldn’t.
I said, “I know. I understand. And I really was speeding and should get the ticket.”
It stung, but I paid the $85 and then headed home.
About a week later I was out walking Frankie and saw the cop who had pulled me over. He stopped and rolled down his car window.
“I’m really sorry I had to give you a speeding ticket.”
By now I was all settled down about it, and I did break the law, so I understood and told him that.
He then told me he had a student training with him that day so he had to follow through, but he felt bad that he had to write the ticket.
It really was okay and I understood. When I think about it today, it is a funny story. I really wonder who in the world I thought I was thinking I didn’t have to stop and could proceed on with my day. And it certainly makes a great story when the topic of speeding tickets comes up again as I’m sure this story will be repeated often for as long as I live.
