How Many??

Our Fall Harvest Party, at church, went really well. I was helping Miss Tesfamariam with the 1st grade and under kids so I'm not 100% positive what happened with the older kids in the gym. I did have to go in the gym a couple of times and from the sounds of things they were all enjoying themselves immensely.

I don't have pictures from the room I was in b/c I was a little busy to take pictures - but we had a blast. There were about 20 kids all of which I'm sure had a stick of sugar BEFORE they came! ha ha

We also had a bake sale and I made a chocolate pie. All the proceeds went to the school. Every little bit helps.

It was a great night .... oh wait ... I can't believe I almost forgot to post this part.

At the end of the night I was by the front doors and someone told me something was on my car. It was pitch black outside. I thought they were just joking to see how hard they could get me to peer into the darkness. Since we were going to have visitors I parked as far away from the church as possible, and I locked my car - something I don't do a lot now since I'm in the boonies. As I "sarcastically" squinted in the direction of my car "just to give 'em a laugh," all of a sudden I did see lumps on my car. What in the world?? I ran up to my car and it had been T.P.'d. Not overly happy b/c you know Goldy is my baby, I started asking who did it b/c I was going to make them come out and clean it up. Then those who were by me started saying, look inside, look inside. And I thought -- I locked my car, I don't need to look inside, but again to appease them, I did - and there was stuff INSIDE my car too!! Now I'm starting to get really irritated b/c that means someone went through my personal things to get my keys. As I was leaning up against my glass looking in I felt something weird on the window but I associated it to the cold temps outside - like frost setting on or something. That was until I heard someone say, We told Tony not to poor the Koolaid on your car but he wouldn't listen! WHAT!?!?!??! WHAT!?!??! Now pure raw anger is washing over me. Someone pulled their car around with their lights shining on mine and I about cried. Red Koolaid was sticking to my car along with all the TP. I was soooo mad b/c I'm trying to think if Koolaid takes enamel off vehicles b/c I didn't learn that part in driver's ed B/C PEOPLE DON'T USUALLY GO AROUND BATHING THEIR CARS IN SUGAR LIQUIDS!!!

I had to walk away. I had to bite my lips. I had to LEAVE FAST!!!! I went inside, got my keys - which were right where I left them, and a garbage bag ... for clean up not to put dead bodies in or anything. I went back outside and all the teens (who were guilty of either the action or standing around laughing while others were doing it) all starting throwing away the tp. It was EVERYWHERE - tons of it was in the grass b/c since it was outside, and breezy, the tp not doused in koolaid or stuck to a windshield wiper blew off. The tp inside my car had fruity candy mixed in also - which I wasn't too happy about b/c again - it's dark out, I can't see in my car real well and if I missed some and turn my heat on ... fruity colored upholstery isn't the most desired thing. One of the mom's licked her finger and rubbed at the Koolaid and said, it will come off. Just poor some hot water on it.

Oh - ok ----and where would I get that from??? There's no hot water at the church - only on special occasions - Pot Luck - when we have to do the dishes afterwards. Then they said I could do it when I get home. Heat up some water and pour it on my car. Ummmmm - why is it these teenagers are the ones that did the damage and I'm the one that has to run back and forth with heated up water????

So I took a different approach. I drove to the nearest town w/a carwash - got my car washed and gave the bill to the teen who had the bright idea to pour this stuff on my car.

I like practical jokes --- the non-destructive kind. People move things on my all the time and make me feel like I'm losing my mind and I really do laugh. But just like in college when a "practical-joke" was wrongly played on me and things were ruined on my bed - I just don't go for that.

My "fun-night" kind of had a down-side to it. And then the extra 1+ hour(s) taking care of my car took away my extra hour of sleep b /c when I got home I still had to go over my S.S. lesson and clean up my kitchen from the pie baking from earlier. (*note* - it's really hard to study scripture when you know you have to get out of your flesh, but you're so irritated you know it's going to take longer than 5 min.)

Maybe I am getting old..er and I don't laugh things off as easily anymore. I don't know. I don't know how much I would have laughed this off at any other time in my life. I have a lot going through my mind....$$ ...my car's not paid off yet, I don't have extra doe for gas and car washes; time / responsibilities ... I was exhausted from going, going, going prior to the party, and then knowing I had things to take care of when I got home.

If it would have been summer and light out, and koolaid wasn't in the picture, I may have had a better attitude. Then we all could have just washed the car and been done with and had fun while washing it. Guess we'll never know -- and after this, I'm pretty sure I don't want another teenager touching my car again.

The really funny part is my friend told them where my car keys were .... yeah, it was nice of them to confess that, and I kindly informed them never to do that again. If my car is locked --- IT'S obviously done for a reason.

My car keys have not left my side since this blessed event, and I lock my car ALL the time again just like when I lived in a highly populated city. When I play the piano for church, my keys are on the piano where I can see them at all times. When I'm at school they're in my sweater pocket -- and my sweater's on me!

If you want to laugh - this "joke" was suppose to be funny ... "I Hit a Mummy!" Maybe I'll laugh in a few years - or when I'm in the nursing home looking back on my life. Right now, although I love our teen group very much, I want them to realize they crossed a line. I'm not an old fart - I really will laugh along with them at things they do to me ... just like I have in the past ... it's just that I do not appreciate jokes that take time and money away from me. I don't have a whole lot of either to spare. I'm actually spending time to update my lacking blog and I'm ridden with guilt. I know one day when they grow up they'll realize, and I don't wish for anyone to have to become an adult before they have to 'cause it's kind of a depressing / discouraging / stinky process .... and I know I have a long way to go yet.

Hopefully, the next "prank" I tell you about will be genuinely funny; one where I'm saying, 'You'll never believe the trap I fell into the other day!!!' Until then......