One more thing to do

All I had to do Tuesday was make sure my high school senior had his senior picture made. No problem. Any time of the day, he could walk cross lots to the school, smile and mosey on home.
Then he signed up to go to a week-long evening seminar in Little Rock that week. That group would stay at a camp close to Little Rock every night except Monday when they would drive home. No problem, even with getting in late Monday night, he would get a good rest before the photo session.
I asked for an earlier photography session to ensure he would not miss his ride to Little Rock. The woman at the office said, “No problem, we have an opening at 2:30.”
The group decided to stay at camp Monday night. No problem, I thought, someone usually comes back from camp, we’ll arrange a ride.
I asked every possible driver. They all told me they weren’t coming back on Tuesday. I said, “No problem, I will get up early, driver the round trip hours and pick you up. You’ll be home in plenty of time for the picture session.”
I did arrange a ride back to camp – if his session with the photographer could be squeezed in a bit earlier. The photographer’s business office said, “No problem. Not everyone shows up, talk with the photographer.”
I talked with the photographer. I explained about the drive and the need to get him through sooner than expected. I was assured that was not a problem. Each session took at least 30 minutes for the six to eight pictures in each package. The boys had to come after the girls.
I was beginning to feel like I had a problem. I don’t like being in a car all day. I decided I needed an attitude adjustment and resigned myself to making a second round trip.
The senior had his photo session. Even with walking cross lots to the school he was gone a total of 20 minutes. “They only took four pictures, Mom. They didn’t even do a couple of the poses they did with my brothers.” He shrugged. “We have to get going now if I am going to meet the van going to Little Rock.”
I looked at the time, agreed, called and asked the people to wait for him. They couldn’t. Their schedule left no room for delays but we could try to meet them where they stopped for supper.
No problem. We could make it, if we didn’t get stuck behind any slow trucks.
We didn’t. We got bumped by a truck that made a left hand turn too soon.
Now we had a problem. Our mini-van was still derive-able, but the trooper was 45 minutes away from the accident. Scratch meeting the group for supper. Scratch the seminar in Little Rock for that night. Exchange licenses and insurance cards, sit in the hot sun, wait on the trooper, then fill out accident reports for half an hour. Drive the senior to the camp and return home having accomplished the only thing we had to do Tuesday: Get his senior picture made.
I drove home with no problem – to be greeted at the door by the heat wave without air conditioning. Some days are a problem.