Friday, December 4, 2009

This is where I draw the line

My dear friend Ashley was in charge of the Relief Society Christmas dinner.  She called and asked me to do something minor for the activity.  Initially I told her yes.  And then, as the week went on, it stressed me and worried me and, in the end, when she called to remind me…I told her I couldn’t do it.

I’m willing to teach a lesson, bring a meal, invite a friend, watch your kids, help you move, pick up trash, supervise a primary activity, drive to a field trip, sing a solo, clean the church, accompany for a baptism, give a talk.  I kind of pride myself on “getting over” whatever fears or issues or stuff I have going on and just doing what needs to be done.

But I cannot, CANNOT, drive a bunch of women to the Relief Society Progressive dinner in the backseat (sick, dirty, smelly, crumbly, crayoned, cluttered) of my van.  CANNOT.

Dirtycar(He’s the only one who rides back there.  It’s his fault, anyway) 

Who’s with me?

**I did drive Ryan’s car, which seats 4.  Ashley wanted big vans but the big Romney van was off limits.

24 comments:

Cami said...

Hear you there!

jessica said...

Ashley has driven in my car many times...which is why she didn't bother asking me! It' good to know that even you have your limits.

Nikki said...

It's like taking someone dinner and realizing they won't eat the food you brought if they see your hot pads when you carry the food in. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

Lauren in GA said...

I don't blame you one little bit.

I think the Relief Society sisters would need a round of special vaccinations before climbing into the backseat of my van. Never know what you may catch back there.

Or what you may be attacked by.

This post was awesome. A girl has got to draw the line sometimes. You are hilarious.

Jenna said...

As I read along, I thought, "She's backing out at the last minute???" Glad to know that you stood up for yourself. Hilarious.

Tristan said...

I hear ya!! I don't like to subject anyone to my car if I can help it. My girls trash that back seat! HA!

Christie said...

God bless you for that. I've sat in WAY too many cars that were disgusting. High time someone said enough!

J'net said...

SO u could add "detailed" van to Ryan's Christmas list in the form of a gift card... Don't guys LOVE anything having to do w/ "cars?"
And SO nice to know where ur line is!!
I would high 5 u on this one!
BUT u still went to the activity, that keeps u in the "perfect" category, I missed my RS Christmas party
'cuz my sister-in-law called and cancelled at 5:45pm w/ a bad back and I folded 'cuz I'm the newbie in the ward and there r TOO many clicks here in this bay area ward... I guess that's MY line... Merry Christmas season of socializing!!

J'net said...
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J'net said...
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the wrath of khandrea said...

skip will not permit our van to get to that level of nasty. if he weren't around, however, you and i would be on the same page. and i would say no as well. way to go.

Linsey said...

Really, you did a greater service by not inflicting the van on anyone who isn't Seth. So really, you did your part and then some.

Spencer said...

Seth looks like Ryan's twin. He is obviously not ocd like his dad though. :)I love you and your messy kids. :) Don't take that wrong.

Bekah said...

BAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I LOVE IT! Oh, that van!

HAHAHAHAHA! I'm still laughing!

And that Seth kid is WAY TOO CUTE and looks SO MUCH LIKE RYAN! WOW!

Erika said...

you're awesome and inspiring. isn't the van on one of you kids' chore charts?

Paige said...

Good for you. I'm seriously learning how to say no. I even said no to Adopt a Family this week at the preschool. I'm already doing one for the church, with the cubs, and at each classroom. I'm going to need someone to adopt me.

Although everytime I walked by the Adopt a Family table at preschool I had to avert my eyes from the guilt.

crystal said...

AMEN, sister! I sorta wish, though, that you hadn't included the list of all the things you WERE willing to do.

You've given me a complex.

crystal said...

And Christie's comment CRACKED ME UP! I've thought many times, as I've read her blog, about her immaculate house; but never have I given a moment's thought to what surely must be her immaculate car.

How? How does she do it?

crystal said...

AMEN, sister! I sorta wish, though, that you hadn't included the list of all the things you WERE willing to do.

You've given me a complex.

Rochelleht said...

HA HA HA HA!! I always have to because I'm in Young Women's and I always take girls somewhere. It's nasty back there, though. You think your's is bad. Try putting a Derick in the back with no supervision. Chicken nuggets circa 1999...

Brooke said...

The comment from spencer is actually from Brooke. Spencer wouldn't be that rude.

Lisa-Marie said...

true. true. paige did a post about this once upon a time. something about the dark, unknown abyss that is the backseat. everytime i have to climb into the back seat, which is rare, thank heaven, i think of paige and now i can think of you too.

isn't learning to say no, liberating.

Adrianne said...

Seth=Ryan. I agree that you drew a line. Lots of people already have clean cars, use theirs!

Jake said...

The filthy car Christie was referring to was mine...

I like your clean new blog look. Who needs a clean backseat?