Benjamin had a packed calendar even before he could walk. One day I needed to take him to yet another doctor and my firstborn son had traded cars with me. The reasons escape me now but I found myself driving, not Lukas's car but Lukas's boss's car. Which was old. I buckled Benjamin into his car seat and tried to figure out the directions. Back in the 90's people still used maps and the one for California was a thousand page tome called the Thomas Guide. In contrast to the current weather patterns in LA the sky was raining to beat the band, and the traffic was horrendous. All things combined, I was late.

I arrived on the right street just as the battery in the car died, and I was stranded in the middle of the road. A friendly strong person saw my distress and helped push me to the curb, so there was a slim chance I could squeeze into the appointment a mere twenty minutes tardy. But when I got out of the car I noticed the color of said curb. Red. Oh well, I would risk the ticket. But a second rescuer arrived and helped push my car twenty feet to a legitimate parking space. I waved frantic thanks and threw the door shut. 

And screamed. 

It was locked with my keys dangling and my baby smiled at me through the window. I wailed and railed against the forces conspiring against me, when yet a third kind bystander asked what was wrong. 

"Mybabyisinthecarandit'slockedandIcan'tgethimandI'mlateandwhatcanIdo?"

The man dashed off to find a phone to call AAA, with his car running, in the rain, while I continued to cry and look helplessly at my contented baby. When the truck came, the man jimmied open the door. Thankfully he did not ask for paperwork proving that it was my vehicle because in my distress I could not remember the name of Lukas's boss or why I was driving his car. That would not look good. 

With my baby finally in my wet arms I asked my savior if he could also jump the battery but he shrugged and said that was a different guy. But he would call him. Having lost all hope of the doctor's visit I waited with Benjamin for yet a fifth rescuer to save me. Which he did. 

I buckled Ben back in his seat and headed home. 

While I considered the last two hours an unmitigated disaster, Ben seemed happy for the outing. How about that. Two people having the same experience, with different takes. 

I was chatting with a man whose work keeps him away from home a great deal. While it will not always be this way, it is now, and he is making the best of it. His wife, on the other hand is angry. She informed me in no uncertain terms that this was unlivable.

Two people, stuck in the same life, with different experiences. I remembered the face of the little boy in the car. Smiling.