Not quite a native Ripley Countian - she attended only her last year of high school in Doniphan though she taught in the R-1 system for 32 years - Teresa (Pearson) Lee delights in surprising readers and herself with anecdotal observations of life in general. Maybe you can blame her St.Louis roots for a quirky humor and some slightly-askewed opinions, but never doubt she writes from the heart.

Prone to Predicaments

Posted Friday, December 16, 2022, at 10:28 AM

Just call me Predicament-Prone Pearson. No one ever said that out loud to me when I was growing up, not that I was temperamental or anything silly like that. These days it IS said out loud. I could add Lucky Tee Lee to the list of nicknames since none of my predicaments have been too traumatic, just frustrating and inconvenient for me and sometimes for the ones who come to my rescue, and usually comedic in hindsight.

One time I decided to head home on a school break from William Jewell in Liberty, Mo. The original plan had been for me to remain on campus, but I changed my mind, loaded way more than I needed into a mound of black trash bags, hitched a ride to the bus station and filled my parents in on the change in plans when I arrived in downtown St. Louis. I had a long wait for dad to come get me, but for me it was worth it. No place like home.

Another time I hitched a ride to the same bus station - this time with a small suitcase - to be home for my brother’s surgery. My ride was long gone when the ticket clerk explained to me that I couldn’t buy a ticket with a check. The bank across the street was closed so I took off walking and found a Phillips 66 station nearby. Since dad operated a Phillips 66 station here, I was sure I could cash a check there in spite of the posted NO CHECKS signs and get back to the station before the bus pulled out. The perplexed gas station owner cashed my check, bless him, and I made it. No place like home.

This week I rushed to the animal hospital with a sick cat - after I ran to town to pick up a carrier then stopped to get fuel. (I know I myself am running on empty when I let the car get much below a half tank. It was about to land on E.) I circled back home, left the car running and went in to fetch Scooter. During Scooter’s exam I searched the car’s crevices for my fob since the car wouldn’t lock. During a second search I attempted to start the car. Not.a.thing.happened. except in my exasperated brain. A vision of my keys hanging in the front door popped up.

There is no place like home and friends who help in a jiffy. Thank you, Becky! It has been humbling to learn I have a ready rescue squad available. If dad is keeping up with my shenanigans, this one tickled him for sure!

(For the 10/26 issue of the PN)