As Faithful Readers of my blog know, my life has been plagued by lights recently.  First, it was the “Check Engine” light, which took a week (and a pile of money) to get under control.  This weekend two new lights came to haunt me.  I feel mildly Scrooge-like, being hunted by three instances of lights!

I will confess to being spoiled by driving in California.  In most cases left hand turn lanes are given their very own turn signals, and when they aren’t there is a sign to remind you that oncoming traffic doesn’t yield.   In Arizona, neither is the case.  When you are attempting a left hand turn, you get a light, but it doesn’t mean you have any sort of right of way.  No, I didn’t get hit . . . . But I did scare the bejeebers out of my wife once (maybe twice).  What makes it all worse, I remembered this traffic fact at the first left turn I had to make, but then totally forgot about it!

Our trip home was a little longer as we were treated to an extra half hour on the tarmac while some extra luggage was added to the belly of the plane.  (Nothing says fun like sitting in a sealed aluminum tube roasting in the Arizona sun on a May afternoon!)   We finally made it to the car and the remote wouldn’t unlock the car doors, never a good sign.  After loading the luggage in the car I tried to start the car – nothing – zip – nada.  Of course the first thing I thought was, I left the lights on!  No, they were off.  Up the way was a security patrol vehicle, I decided that I’d go talk to them about getting a jump.  Great idea, but the vehicle was unmanned and there wasn’t a sole around it anywhere.  I walked down a couple more lanes looking for the airport Barny Fife, and to my pleasure discovered another sole in the same fix getting a jump start.  After assisting with this jump start the guy said sure, he’d give me a jump too.  Total time lost, maybe 15 minutes.  As soon as the car started, the 4 way blinkers started flashing on my car.  It seems that when I placed the parking stub in the dash console, I bumped the button for the emergency flashers.

Now that I have been vexed three different ways by Thomas Edison’s little invention, I only hope I am done!  I have learned my lesson and like Ebenezer Scrooge,   I promise to keep the spirit of Christmas in my heart all year!!