Ever come really, really close to making a collosal Axx of yourself. No, I don't mean just another day of stuff I regret saying. But coming right to the brink of OMG WTH, local news stardom? Well, I came close.

This evening, right after dark, I'm at my local Walmart about 5 miles from home. When I left, girl was at the house behind us playing with a school friend. This house is the grand parents. Don't know much about them. Met 'um but thats it. I get a call from my wife. She wants to know if it's okay with me if girl goes to get ice cream with them. I say sure and ask where they are going. Well, he he he, they are coming up just a few doors down from the Mart. So I decide to park and spy. Would be a good time to see how girl acts with other people and make sure I don't see anything I don't like about the neighbors. So, stealth mode I go. Giggling to myself. They show and get yogurt cups to go. I figure, I'll follow and see if I approve of the way they drive with one-half of my soul in their car. All seems well.

Their mini van head to the far right lane which is a right turn only and we are only half way home on this road. Right turn signal and I'm thinking "where the heck are they going. You can't get home thru there". Right turn.....a quarter mile.......right turn into some apartments. I follow wondering. In they go, make a 180 and I think "ha. I'm busted. They saw me and pulled my chain.". Nope, they park and I duck in an open space maybe 70 yards away. Grandpa gets the two little girls out still holding their cups and across the parking lot they go. I'm not going to lie to you. My heart went to thumpin. Muscles tight. Sweat. Trembling. I picturing every episode of Special Victims Unit that ever crossed my eyes.

Funny how many terrible things can cross your mind in 10 seconds. Did I mention that I don't really trust people? I'm cold now and can feel my heart in the side of my neck. What do I say? Everything from "hey, where yall going?" all the way to "Back away from my daughter while the laser dot bounces on his chest to the rythem of my heart". I'm dialing my wife. Thank you God, that she answered. I asked if they were doing anything other then icecream. She replies "yea, they are going to the other girls apartment to drop some stuff off at her moms." Thank you God. Thank you that the call went thru. Thank you that she wasn't up stairs away from her phone. Thank you that the Grandparents had told her of the plan. If not, in two more heart beats, I would have topped all other stupid things I have done thus far combined.

OMG I was a shaking, sad sack. Relieved. Embarrased. Sick. Ashamed. Scared. Sweaty. I honestly don't know if my trembling legs would have got me across the parking lot or dropped me like a stone had I taken a step. I got myself together and did follow them home. Getting home a few minutes after them like nothing ever happened.

Sorry this is so long. But it still seems sur-real. Thanks for letting me vent.

Dayton