Communication is a Glorious Thing

My manager often said 'communication is the key to success'. Boy was she right!

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I didn't go anywhere yesterday. I meant to, but couldn't. Caleb and Isabel had doctors appointments, but I had to cancel. I backed out of the garage and the truck felt funny. Emergency brake? Off. Flat tire? Yep, that'd be it. Pull truck back in. Call doctor and reschedule appointments. Then call the mister and let him know he has to pick up Mae from school. Later, Ryan put the spare tire on the truck and gave me instructions on driving with a spare.

Number one: DO NOT drive on the freeway.

Me: No problem, all schools and stores do not require the freeway in the routes I take.

Number two: It is not wise to drive over 35 miles per hour.

Me: Ah man! This means I need to give myself slow-poke driving time so I am not late picking up kids from school or miss Isabel's new doctor appointment.

Number three: Do not go anywhere unnecessary.

Me: Ah man! I wanted to go to Target!!!

I did follow all the rules. Yeah me. But do you know how difficult it is to drive under 35 mph? Fortunately there is only one spot that the speed limit was over 35. I was good about giving myself plenty of time to get to the 'necessary' places so I was able to remain calm with driving terribly slow as others, without restrictions, speedily passed.

Even without 'unnecessary' stops I still had many places to go today. First was Isabel's doctors appointment. Then pick Mae up from school. Get Caleb from his school. Then over to Costco to get a new tire (so I can drive fast!). Finally, back home for lunch and nap time. All the while not going faster than 35. What a busy and slow morning!

I later come to find out that Ryan and I have different styles of communication. This is not new to us, however it does effect the way I perceive what he is saying. He 'recommends' that it is not wise to drive faster than 35 mph, not that I 'couldn't'. See, I am a black and white kind of person. If Ryan says that I shouldn't drive faster than 35 then I take it to mean that I should not drive faster than 35. Ryan, on the other hand, communicates in what he calls 'ishes'. Meaning, I could drive 35-ish. That's so not fair.

Costco was able to fix the tire so we did not have to buy a new one. Whew, dodged that bullet (but not the nail that had caused this whole ordeal). Ryan has now installed the fixed tire and I am all set to go to Target tomorrow.......and drive faster than 35!