A Special Attraction to Murphy?

Apparently I have a secret admirer – once every two years this special attraction shows up and bumps into me unexpectedly. And it’s no fun.

It’s our garage door.

I consider myself a reasonable aware driver – defensively intelligent and aware of my surroundings. Well, at least most of the time. But for some reason, the garage door is one that sneaks up on me. Like clockwork every two years – BAM ! something happens.

Round one- sometime in 2004. Just finished washing Jodi’s car. Time to pull in. Right rear passenger door is open and I do not see it. I pull the car forward and hear the door slam.

Result: A one foot crease perfectly vertically aligned with the hinges, but much less attractive.

Round two – Sometime in 2006. Bringing home the cat. A very small Taylor and Phoebe are walking around the truck – lots of distraction. Everyone is safely out. I close the garage door, forgetting that the hatchback is open. The garage door proceeds to close it for me with a loud crunch and a few pops that made me cringe with each whack. It happened in slow motion, and I had to wait until it was finished.

Result: Two paint scrapes in the back. Much better than I anticipated, but a painful permanent reminder of my moment of distraction.

Round Three – This weekend, 2008. I’m on the phone, it’s an urgent matter and my adrenaline is running. Trying to do too much at once. I crank the SUV, open the garage door and begin backing out..BLAM BLAM CRUNCH CRUNCH…..I quickly tried remembering what I had left behind the wheels. Was it a bike? A box of junk? I MASHED the brake quickly to stop any more damage and looked back. The garage door was only half open. Apparently I had not waited long enough.

Result: A ripple in the garage door. Another long scratch on the hatchback.

Now the thought of a special attraction is nauseating me just a little bit. Me and the garage door. I don’t get it. BUT I have three reminders of this special relationship. Sure ,the cat is gone, and so is the first car. But it’s choosing ME each time.

So what’s your “one thing” ?… that magnetically stressful relationship with some goofy object that won’t seem to get out of your way ? Murphy