The amazing but true adventures of the leftover food

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This story has very little nothing to do with saving money. But I thought it was worth sharing. So tonight, humor me, and let me tell you a tale of the leftover food.

It all started this morning when I took the kids to the zoo. It had been a busy week and Mommy decided it was “fun day.” I do this maybe once every week or every other week. Have you tried it? If not, you should! Just pick a day – or even part of a day – and make it all about your kids.

Part of the fun I’d promised was ice cream – partly because my son Keefe asked for it, and partly because my Mother-in-law had sent him some Baskin Robbins gift certificates for his birthday recently (thanks, Mom!). But we hadn’t had lunch and I was starting to wonder if I should’ve packed something for them. I decided to splurge by taking them to the zoo grill. (AYE! Note to self: next time plan better!) Of course my kids can’t finish their huge lunches, but I’m not one to waste food, so I ask for a takeout box and off we go to Baskin Robbins, which is a good 10-15 minutes from the zoo.

We enjoy our ice cream and by now it’s well past naptime, so I’m trying to zip home. So I’m scootin’ down the freeway when someone honks. At me. Of course, I get instantly defensive supposing it’s the guy that wouldn’t let me in a mile or so back. I glare over at him, but to my surprise, he’s not flipping me off or trying to be flirty. Instead, he’s making some rather complicated hand gestures.  Uh-oh. That can’t possibly be good.

What is it? The gas door? No, it keys shut. The back door open? I glance in my rearview mirror and that’s when I notice It. The leftover food I’d set on top of the spare tire while getting the kids in the car. It had seriously been riding on that back tire since we left the zoo – all the way to the Baskin Robbins – and now, zipping down the freeway at 60 mph!! At this point, I wave a “thank you” to the Nice Man in the car, but am freaked out.

What could happen if it flies off my car? Would it just drop to the ground – or worse – at the speed I’ve been going, could it fly off my car and smack the windshield of another car heading down the freeway? What in the world would YOU think if you were minding your own business, driving down I-5 and a half eaten chicken strip smacked into your windshield? Could that cause damage? What would happen to my insurance rates? Or worse, what if it was so distracting it would cause an accident? Would we be on the 5 o’clock news? Would I have to go to court?

At this point, I’m sort of freaking out, but also sort of amazed the thing is STILL sitting there after miles of city roads and freeway. I was still a good couple miles from the nearest place I could safely stop, but thankfully, there weren’t any cars directly around me. I finally find an exit and pull off. I come to a stop light. It’s red. Another car honks his horn at me at this point. More hand gestures. While the first guy was a Good Samaritan, the second guy just annoys me. Of course I know I have a leftover box on my spare tire! Isn’t it obvious? What’s with people, anyways? Do you think I’m that clueless?

I decide this is my chance. At the red light, I hop out super quick, grab the box and get back into the car. I feel like a Super Hero. Except instead of saving lives, I’ve saved half-eaten Zoo grill food.

I’m still in shock. That leftover box made it a good 10 miles + around town and on the freeway and not one lost waffle fry? Amazing. Simply…amazing. And when my son asked for his leftovers this afternoon, I was able to oblige. No worse for the wear, right?

While this has little nothing to do with couponing, I share this story with you readers to remind you that miracles, even small ones, do happen everyday.

Pictured above: the dramatic reinactment.