Wednesday, April 14, 2010

An Alternate Use for the Panic Alarm

Last night was our final Bible study session for the semester. My favorite part of Bible study (don't tell anyone) is getting to drive my mom home. We always grab dinner before I drop her off and we enjoy having some good talk time without the children present. Bibby would rather have the children present but I like having times when I don't have to compete with two adorable grandchildren for her attention. If your mom is your BFF, you can probably relate.

Last night we had our post-Bible study date at Chuy's. (I've been eating a lot of Mexican food lately because if I can resist blowing it on the chips, I can eat two scaled down chicken fajitas without killing my diet.) After dinner we walked out to the car and saw a very strange sight. Some kind of alien form was moving around at a frenzied pace inside the vehicle parked next to mine. Upon second glance, we realized it was definitely not an alien. Two human being were just getting very well acquainted in the car. In other words, they were no longer aliens to one another. Mom would call their activity tonsil hockey, but since I'm a product of the 90's I will call it mugging down.

Awkward!

In order for us escape this scene of public shame, I was going to have to come within one foot of the other car. Frankly, I was scared. And then a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.

The panic alarm.

THE PANIC ALARM!

I pushed the red button on my key chain without delay and my car horn obnoxiously delivered me from all my fears! You've never seen two people separate so fast in all your life. I stopped the alarm and scurried to my car, looking neither to the right nor to the left. I played it off like I hadn't been the one to interrupt their business. (They knew.) Mom, who was shocked by my sudden boldness, saw that their window was rolled down (must have been the fog) and she heard them laughing. They flew out of the parking lot and zoomed down the road faster than we could even get our seat belts on.

Next time I accidentally set off my panic alarm and embarrass myself in front of my neighbors, I will try to remember the debt of thanks I owe it.

87 comments:

JayCee said...

Our church parking lot (during the week nights and even days - can you believe it - when hardly anyone is around) attracts a lot of those kinds of couples! I'm going to remember that about the car alarm! Thanks!!

Lana said...

I'm totally laughing my head off...poor couple probably the first time they had been away from their kids in a long time! ;) LOL!

AbbyLane said...

this just made my whole day. between running sick kids to the doctor, and taking myself there tomorrow (stupid pollen), it was the perfect comic relief to my afternoon. thank you!!

Stephanie said...

That is hysterical! And a great idea!! Unfortunately, our Church parking lot can also become one of those "destinations" for some teenagers in the area, maybe I'll just have to "accidentally" push my panic button next time it happens!

boomama said...

That made my whole day.

Myriam said...

That is hilarious but it worked.

Myriam

Marc and Charity said...

That is awesome!

CAROL LIVIN FOR GOD said...

Nice I am going to have to remember the red button on my car key as well the panic alarm. I am laughing at the post because whoever that couple was probably got scared after the panic alarm went off that was to funny.
Have a blessed day
Carol

A Cup Bearer said...

You are a genius!!! Thanks for sharing this weapon of warfare! :-)

Rhonda said...

Divine inspiration is what I would call that!Brillant and funny:)

Audra Laney said...

Hilarious and ingenious! We had a similar issue, but the car was parked IN OUR BACK YARD!

http://andrewaudra.blogspot.com/2007/10/breaking-news-and-trespassers.html

Wish I'd had a panic button then!

Molly said...

HAHAHA This was great - I can just see you and your mom's eyes bugged out at eachother! PTL for the panic button...They will never forget it, I'm giddy with happiness, you made me laugh so hard!

Bobbie said...

You two are too funny!!! I'm very proud of you for coming up with that! That little button has a whole new meaning--filed away for future use!

Nancy Mon said...

Love it! My only time to use the panic alarm was at Starbuck's. I had met a friend and we were inside visiting. There were people outside talking and several kept sitting on my car hood. So every time one of them sat on my car, I pushed the alarm. It was kind of fun and funny.

Angie said...

hilarious. my mom and i are bff's and i can def relate, since we usually have the kiddos(5 and7).

Gina said...

I used my car alarm on day when leaving a conference at a VERY BIG CHURCH with a VERY BIG PARKING LOT with a bunch of women who couldn't remember WHERE we had parked...and ALL the cars were covered with a fresh dusting of snow which made looking for the car by its color impossible. We got stares from a few others until they caught on to what we were doing and started doing the same!

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

Have been getting pains in my neck and shoulders from putting together my ladies Sunday school lesson the past three hours or so and this was JUST what I needed to loosen up! ha This was hillarious Amanda! Thanks so much!

Marilyn...in Mississippi

Katie said...

Never go to France.

Gran Jan said...

Amanda - quick thinking girl! I am proud of you!

And I thought my panic alarm was only good for finding my car at the mall!

Actually, I'm so old fashioned, I am "alarmed" at the behavior of some folks...I am so modest. I am embarrassed for them, but it sounds like they were good sports about it.

Take care!
Mrs. Jan

Lysa TerKeurst said...

You make me laugh.

And I'm so happy I have a new cool phrase to toss out in front of my kids..."Mugging Down."

jamie b said...

that is HILARIOUS! wish i could have seen everyone's faces :)

Unknown said...

stop it... too funny...

We just finished up our bible study last night, too, how fun! We did Esther, and let me tell you, I thought it was AMAZING! LOVED IT!
We even had a "royal dessert banquet"-- complete with Esther crown and Mordecai centerpiece! :)

So looking forward to the LPL event this weekend in Florida! :)

Lauren said...

Seriously, if anyone needs a good laugh today they need to read this!!! Ha! HILARIOUS!!!!

Kelly @ Love Well said...

Brilliant! (Pretend I said that with my best fake-British accent.)

I bow before your genius.

Marla Taviano said...

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

Brittny said...

OH MY GOODNESS, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! That is the funniest thing I have heard in a long time! You go girl! I'm going to have to share that one.

Colleen said...

Crack me up the wall! That sounds like a stroke of genius to me!

Renee Swope said...

My face hurts from smiling so big. That is hilarious. Thanks for the laugh!!!

Lindsey said...

I can totally relate to the competing for attention with the cutest grandbaby! I'm like mom!! Listen to me!

Sarah said...

That is priceless! Now I'm even sadder that Grayson has disabled mine. (along with both the CD and DVD players in my car--what's the point of driving it anymore??)

Leslie and James said...

That is HILARIOUS!!!

ocean mommy said...

THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING I'VE HEARD ALL DAY! I would have never thought about the panic alarm!

Shelli Littleton said...

Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha!!! So funny, Amanda!

Kyle Taylor said...

That was genius! I love that you actually did it. You are such a rebel ;)

Unknown said...

You have so totally made my night! I LOVE IT!

Totally unrelated, but one time I was in a funny mood as I was walking out of a restaurant one evening. A car backing out very slowly was about to come close to my car so I hit the unlock button on my key chain and it made the reverse lights come on. The car in question saw it, slammed on the brakes and laid on the horn thinking that my car was backing out of the parking space. I wasn't even in the car! hehehehe TOO hilarious!

However, I do realize that I might have given that driver a glimpse into what a heart attack might feel like and I did feel bad after the whole thing was said and done. But it was funny for a moment!

Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca

Missy said...

Ten levels of awesomeness.

Angela said...

Girl....I am so LAUGHING! ;-)

Heather said...

oh my gosh, I am laughing so hard!! Brilliant!!!! So proud of you for holding it together, I might have turned around and walked back in the building!

Big Mama said...

Perfection.

FitzandMolly said...

do you know how happy i am that you shared this? i love it!

Tara G. said...

Roaring!!!

Kristen @ Moms Sharpening Moms said...

Oh girl. LOVE IT.

Sarah said...

You are so clever! :) Must have been awkward to be sure! Gave me a good laugh....thanks! :)

Leanne said...

This is a great story. I started laughing when you called them an alien form and then didn't stop until the end. That was awesome that you set off the panic alarm. :)))

Unknown said...

I am laughing out loud while all by my self! So funny, wish I could have been a fly on your car window!

HappyascanB said...

That's hilarious!!

fuzzytop said...

Now that's funny!!! Tonsil hockey...??? I'm gonna remember that phrase.

Hugs,
Adrienne

Deirdre said...

oh my goodness! what a great "alternate" use for the panic button!!! heheheheheeeeee

I'm gonna be smiling for the rest of the day.

Deirdre

Erica said...

That is AWESOME!!!

ncmama said...

That is hilarious!!! Thanks for sharing. :)

katiegfromtennessee said...

The car alarm was perfect for that situation, that was really awkward. Not good. I can't tell you how many times I've accidently set mine off, but the best time was when my husband set it off in the church parking lot trying to break into my car with a wire hanger and pliers because we had accidently locked the keys in the car. That one was the best:)

Emmy said...

That made my day! : ) Hysterical!

Three Fold Cord said...

Hysterical!!

Bonky's Mom said...

That. Is. Genius.

The Reardon's said...

Amanda, ii love you girl! this is seriously one of the funniest things i've ever heard! I cannot stop laughing!

Church Lady said...

You and Lysa Terkheurst tell the best stories. You should check her's out today. It's a hoot!!
But anywho, God may have sent you for such a time as that to keep "anything" else from happening! Thanks for making me laugh.

Beth said...

I LOVE our Tuesday night meals together. And you, Darling Child, are my BFF, too.

Life Is Crazy Beautiful said...

What a hoot! Too bad I don't have a panic button for my car. If I did I can only pray I would be able to think that quickly :)
Lisa

Lindsee said...

That is complete genius. And hilarious.

Rachel Cox said...

This is hilarious!!!!

Sarah M. said...

That is brilliant! I would have probably done the same thing (as I've used the panic alarm for other things before as well)!

Manda said...

THAT WAS ME!!!!
jk :)

so about a yr ago i saw someone in my car, I was so angry someone had gotten in my car. So as I was walking up ready to scream at the person, I decided to push the panic alarm... just to have my car's alarm go off a couple spots down... I think the person in what i thought was my car locked the door because of the crazy girl with red eyes approaching!

Anonymous said...

Hilarious!! I wish I could have seen the look on their faces!

Megan said...

I love the way your mind works. LOVE IT!!

:-)

Megan

http://reddirtandcrazy.blogspot.com/

Lauren said...

Okay, Amanda, that is HILARIOUS! You are too funny. I don't think I would have had the nerve!

Mary H. said...

I must say you are a quick thinker!!!
I needed this laugh!!

Thank you!

annalee said...

i always think of things like that after the fact. way to think of it in the moment and put your plan into action! love it!

Laura said...

LOVE IT!

Amanda said...

Tears...streaming...down...face...

Loved it! :)

Toknowhim said...

That is some quick thinking :) Love this story, and love that you love to spend time with your mom (BFF)...

PS... Never heard of mugging down before :)

Rebekah Greiman said...

I tend to use the car alarm on my hubby as he's heading back to the car in the rain. He doesn't think it's very funny, so I use it sparingly....

Shelli Littleton said...

Amanda ... you inspired me! Today as the girls and I were heading to our car, coming out of the mall ... they got brave and ran a bit ahead of me to the car. I let them because I saw no cars were coming ... and as soon as they hit the car, I pushed the button for the alarm! You should have seen them jump back and then we all just cracked up! I told them they owed thanks to you!! :) I would have never thought to do that on my own though!!

Carol said...

That is about the funniest post I've ever read anywhere! And kudos for thinking on your feet so fast! Great job!

MarytheKay said...

MAN!! That was some smart--and fast thinking on your part!!! I am very impressed.

Mugging down...I think we called it mugging out...It's been so long, I'm not really sure. I mean--now it's called, "Shh! Do you really think the kids are asleep? I think I hear something!" Or my husband's favorite..."I think I forgot to pull something out of the dryer. Hang on just a sec."

Claire said...

Oh so funny!

Cxx

Grumpy Pants said...

LOLOLOLOLOL! Wow, I think my mom would have just gone up to the window, knocked on it, and told them to get a room. I'll have to remember the car alarm. Awesome!

Fran said...

OHMYWORD!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Ha! Cracks me up! Love the tonsil hockey and mugging down. Never heard the latter, and I graduated in 92...LOL!

Sarah said...

That is hilarious! Next time I see strange alien forms in a car,I'm going to think of you! :)

Musings of a Homeschooling Mom said...

I love it! I'll have to remember that. Very smart!

connorcolesmom said...

TOO FUNNY!!
that just makes me laugh
you are too cute

Michelle said...

I will never hear a panic alarm the same again.

Terrie and Carley said...

Hi Amanda,

What I am about to write has nothing to do with your post it has to do with a baby gift you either received when Annabeth was born or you gave this thing to one of your friends. It was the electronic gadget that a person could keep up with the last diaper change, feeding, nursing, medicine given,etc. I am hoping you know what I am talking about. Upon your recommendation I have given this to many many expecting mom's and all have LOVED it. I went to Target today to get another one to give away and my local Target doesn't have it. I was wondering have you seen that little gadget at other places than Target. I am 46 yr old and I don't keep up with the latest things like you and so many others young moms do.

You can respond back to me via my blog. Thank you so much if you do. If you don't, I understand, you are one busy person. PS..I don't expect you to post this on your comment page.

Kelli said...

That is all kinds of hilarious.

Amy T said...

All I can say is Oh My! Very quick thinking on your part!

Allison said...

hilarious!!!!!!!

TDM Wendy said...

Out of a movie scene.