So, I did a very stupid thing last week. I changed my car. That wasn’t the stupid thing, but what I did next was.
I have these little Faraday pouches for my car keys, the ones that stop someone outside your house sucking the program out of your smart key and driving off in your car.
So, now I had two cars. Although I had sold my old one, the buyer put off collecting it for a few days because of a family emergency, so I had two cars outside. And I hadn’t insured my old car – after all, it was just going to sit there.
To keep it safe, I’d heard that putting the keys in the microwave would also protect them (can you see where this is going?), so that’s what I did.
The first night everything went to plan. I took the microwave plug out, put the keys in and shut the door. The second night, I did the same. I didn’t realise that the little timer thing wasn’t quite off. I shut the door. In the morning, I put the plug back in before I took the keys out and the two seconds the microwave came on fried the innards of the keys completely.
When I say fried, I mean totally fried.
I now needed to get two new, very expensive programmed keys from the dealer (who did an amazing job, by the way – and hardly laughed at all), very quickly. Because the key needed programming at the garage, I had to call out the rescue service to take my completely immobile car to the garage. My buyer was very good and understood and agreed to wait until today.
I was so annoyed with myself. I sought catharsis several times by telling close relatives I could trust. They were all very good to me.
My son and wife both held me and my plight in perspective.
‘No-one died.’
‘It could have been much worse.’
All very true, especially in the current situation.
Of course, I still felt annoyed and frustrated with myself with this saga.
And I now know, the car collected and the incident all over (but for the receding shadow in my own head), how valuable it was to have understanding, perspective and compassion around me in my moment of need.
Of course, I learned an expensive lesson. I won’t do that again.
But I also learned another thing. That when the chips are down, sometimes we need people around us who will just hear us out, listen really well and not serve up frustrating criticisms or make us feel even more stupid.
Everyone, from family, friends, the tow-truck driver, the guy who I ordered the keys from at the dealership and more, were compassionate and appreciated what I needed from them, in that moment.
Thank you – I feel better now.
Previously posted on LinkedIn here
