I was in a hurry (what else is new really?) rolled out of the driveway and was trying to get to the post office while a friend watched my kiddos and

Nope.

Did not belt up.

I'm one of those people that belts later in a drive...well usually. Sometimes my husband calls me and hears the seat belt warning ping going off in the background and he'll say all exasperated: "Put your seat belt on Hope! Can't you hear the warning bells?" I have another friend who wants to know how I can stand to hear the pinging and I answer him with "what pinging?" He stays equally annoyed.

Okay so sometimes I do do it on my own or when I see a cop. Only-- well... I didn't see this one this time. I was trying to keep my boxes from sliding off the seat at the time. Seems they needed a seat belt, too.

By the time I looked up, I saw the car flip a U, the lights come on and when I pulled over,the mama cop gets out of the car and I groaned...I definitely keep too many irons in the fire sometimes.

She walks up and identifies herself. Then the question gets asked. Is there a reason you aren't wearing your seat belt? These are the times you are glad more people aren't mind readers...because all I could think of was..."is it possible that I'm about to get out of a second ticket in month ? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO way!!!

I look at her and say, "Well, it's more of an excuse than it is a reason. Do you still want to hear it?"

This made her smile.

"Sure."

"I am in too much of a hurry. A friend is watching my kiddos so I can get to the post office with these boxes."

"That's a lot of boxes."

"Yep."

"Ebay?"

"No.

Jarheads in Iraq and Africa. I was supposed to get this stuff out yesterday and didn't. I guess I got a little hyper focused." (My friends IRL will have fun with this comment.)

"I see.

License and registration?"

I hand her the goods and sink down into my seat when she walks away. Did I mention I am on a main street in the small town I live in? Nice.

"Rats.

I'm getting a ticket," I begin to speculate.

This thought gets reinforced because it is taking a LOOOOONG time for her to come back.

Tony is going to kill me, I think as I start with the minor hair twirling.

Oh crap here she comes.

I sit up a little straighter and wait for the 'please sign here it's not an admission of guilt schpiel'...

"Ok, Ma'am.What I've done is written you a warning. We are cracking down on seat belt laws this summer. Please make it a point to use yours. Go ahead and get those boxes to the post office and have a nice day."

I said it once and I'll say it again:

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeew.

Gotta love my jarheads.