Ladies of Hive Community Contest #65 - My worst embarrassment feeling

Nearly 50 years has passed by since a memorable traffic pickle I found myself in as a 20 year old.

Let me tell my story:

It was early 1970's and I was in my third year at Teacher's College in Brisbane Queensland co-owning an old second hand brownish pink mushroom coloured Volkswagen with one of my sisters who caught the bus to and from work each day. The car was basically mine all week and better still it only cost $400, my dad loaned me $200, which I paid back with the earnings of my part time work as a waitress.

The car to me was the best thing since sliced bread, it got me to and from Teacher's College that happened to be not on a direct bus route. Before the car I group hitched hike with College buddies. Never to get in a stranger's care on your own was our one safety rule.

The car was freedom and total joy for this 20 year old, not only could I drive as much as I wanted to with and without friends I could also drive home in the country. But, there was one little hiccup, the little VW did not have a petrol gauge. Hard to believe in this modern day but the reality is that once upon a time cars did not have petrol gauges. Never wanting to be stranded in the car with an empty fuel tank I could was extra vigilant topping it up with fuel each week. But I did not have complete ownership and there were those times when my sister drove the car. That was the deal we shook hands on and it proved to be my most humiliating undoing.

On that horrible no good Monday morning after she used the VW all weekend I drove off to College completely forgetting to stop for my usually weekly petrol station routine. My forgetfulness came back to bite me because in the middle of extra busy peek hour traffic with foot pressing down on the accelerator my lovely always reliable old brownish pink mushroom VW would not move one inch. Horror, shock and embarrassed feelings covered me with cold sweat as I realised I was not going to move. I was stuck! It was worse than the worse nightmare.

There was only one way out of this awkward spot, I had to get out and face the faceless drivers behind their wheels. I opened the door to face them, whom I only saw in my mind glaring and mouthing. I was convinced I would be lynched. But to my surprise I was not instantly strung up on the overhead wires! Instead some nice helpful men with kind smiles suggested they move my VW to the side of the road. Then one of these gallant knights got busy digging around in his boot bringing out a full can of petrol. He filled up my tank to what I thought must have been at least half full. In the midst of me smiling and saying my many thank yous to these fabulous brave knights, they smiled, wished me a lovely day and off they drove.

I headed to College feeling very relieved and vowed I would never forget filling up the fuel tank ever again no matter what.

And while I recall how embarrassed I felt at that very moment stuck in the midst of traffic, I now have a little laugh whenever I picture this young 20 year old version of me in a mini skirt with long golden brown hair standing in front of every car, bus and delivery van in that intersection.

So ends my little entry into the Ladies of Hive Community Contest #65. It was a fun piece of memory to write, thank you.

Regrettably I do not have a photo of that old brownish pink mushroom coloured VW, smart phones were yet to be created.

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But I can share a photograph of my beach that I took late yesterday afternoon. I was happily walking along when my eyes focussed on the many foot prints and shoe prints in the soft sand left by the many walkers. This is the moment when just like me the visitors and locals breathe in the salt sea air and beach atmosphere of the beautiful surf beach across the road from my place. It is the best way to magically let go of the stresses of a busy day.

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This thriving poinsettia plant was once sad and struggling at Bunnings a few weeks ago. I rescued it and always find it amazing how after some tender loving care, fertiliser, water, sun and rain drops act as wonderful miracle workers.

My writing and my photography are all my original work.

(I am inviting @ginnyannette in to the Ladies of Hive Community just in case you are not at this current time a member. You would in every way be a fabulous writer for this community as your writing skills are brilliant.)