Double Trouble

Summer’s here and it’s time for some of those great genealogy research trips. 

Have you ever planned a research trip, made the arrangements so everything would still be standing (including family members) when you returned, and left, only to discover things went a little haywire while you were gone?  You know, when “the cat’s away the mice will play?”  I should have remembered that.

When I lived in Oregon, my friend, Ann B. and I decided to go to Salt Lake City for a week of genealogy research at the Family History Library (FHL).  We made ALL the arrangements so our children would be well cared for in our absence.   My husband was working during the day, but he would be home at night, so the teenagers would have someone there checking on them.  Teenagers.  That should have given me a clue.

Ann and I were having a great time researching at the FHL when we received word of trouble with one of MY children, the Fearless One, aka Corey.

As Ann’s husband reported, that summer day he had been driving home for lunch and came to the stop sign at the end of our block.  He glanced at the other car also stopped at the corner, and recognized Corey at the wheel.  Bear in mind, Corey was only 14 years old, clearly not within the legal age for driving, and he did not have a license, not even as a student driver.

Exasperated, Anne’s husband called out to Corey, “What are you doing?”

Corey called back, “I’m driving.”  (At least I taught him to tell the truth.)

Ann’s husband threatened, “You’d better get that car back home right NOW!”

Obedient, too, Corey put the car in reverse.  He didn’t even have any trouble finding reverse.  Hmmmm.  It looked like it was not his first time behind the wheel. 

Of course, he was in trouble.  Double trouble.  Triple trouble.  Trouble with a capital T.  

Do you know what he or she said about it? 

He whined, “I ALWAYS get caught!”

I would hope so!  If not, I wouldn’t be doing MY job.

We survived.  We all survived, and they were all still standing when I returned.  From that day, however, I had to think very hard before I ever left home again for any length of time, at least until Corey and his siblings grew up.

How have you dealt with family “issues” as you worked on your research?