My Car Clutter
Last week at a soccer game, someone had a very specific need, and behold, I had the solution in the back of my car. Amazed, they likened my car to a Swiss Army Knife (which, BTW, is in the car). So here are five of the thirty-plus items I keep in my car that create a little quirky clutter - everything from quarters to a trauma-level medical bag (yes, you read that right).
Pill Bottle Full of Quarters. Yes, you read that right; the first item has a little jingle to it. It’s a collection of quarters in an old prescription bottle. The PM-20 bottle (yes, they have numbers on the bottom - just take a look) is just the right size for my shiny coins. A bottle of quarters and another with fifty dollars in one are constant companions in my glove box. Why you ask, well it’s not for a trip to the arcade. They are for those moments when you need cash or coins and don’t have any. Think parking meter or a vending machine. It’s so much easier than reconciling a bunch of $1.00 credit card transactions.
Battery-Powered Inflator. Much like my dad jokes, sometimes things are just flat. And because inevitably someone’s soccer ball needs a boost, the inflator stands ready to assist. It’s a simple and practical tool that may linger in the car for months without use, but the moment I take it in the house, we find ourselves fifty miles from home with a flat ball and only a handheld bicycle pump to inflate. Twelve volts of prevention is much better than four ibuprofen and an Icy Hot covered arm - just sayin’.
Lonely Bag Chair. And while we’re on the subject of soccer, how about my bag chair? It’s that proud symbol of parental support. But here’s the catch, I never actually sit in it! Instead, I stand, pacing and cheering (OK, yelling instructions, but it’s like cheering). All the while my chair remains untouched, yet loved. It’s like a trust exercise with a piece of furniture.
Trauma-Level Medical Bag. Now, this one might raise some eyebrows. Yes, I keep a trauma-level medical bag in my car, complete with a stapler. Why, you ask? Well, I have boys. Those who know, know. And while the rule is, that you’re not hurt unless the bone is sticking through the skin, or the blood is free-flowing, sometimes the treatment for other injuries needs to be more than a 'Hello Kitty’ Band-Aid.
Fire Extinguisher, Hand Axe, and a very Big Knife. Now I know what you’re thinking, and no, I’m not auditioning to be the next Arnold in an action movie. These are part of my “just-in-case” kit. The extinguisher is for, well, fires. The hand axe? Well, you never know when you might need to chop some firewood for a campfire, right? However it, along with the Big Knife, also works well for cutting up impromptu charcuterie boards both during and after the game. And while Lunchables might be an easier solution, this is far more impressive and intimidating. Image the looks I get from the Pumpkin Spice crowd.
As you ponder what I have shared, think of these five items as my eccentric way of embracing the unpredictability of life - or at least a typical Saturday before, during, and after soccer.