#63 Stinky Science Lessons...
It wasn’t actually bananas.
It was something rather worse.
I take you back with me to a bygone summer.
A summer when we were schlepping three kids from pillar to post as we navigated baseball games, swimming lessons, day camps and kids theater.
I thought we were handling things pretty well. We got everyone where they needed to be. They were even reasonably on time.
We were proud of ourselves.
Perhaps even a little smug.
Then the smell started.
It was subtle at first. We weren't even sure where it was coming from. Possibly the baseball cleats. Or the compost pile in the backyard.
But, by day three we settled on the minivan. It was definitely coming from the minivan.
There was a chance the odor was traveling via the air ducts. Which could mean something had died inside the engine, or other nasty hidden car places, and would involve paying an expensive mechanic to find and fix it.
We resisted taking the van to the dealership. We drove with the windows open. We bought air fresheners.
And looked and looked and looked to track down the source of the stench.
As the noxiousness grew ever stronger rather than weaker, our suspicions that something had died intensified.
We were right.
Something had, indeed, died.
But it wasn't an animal.
As I approached the baseball diamond one evening my husband asked me, "What night was it that we bought the kids those sub sandwiches?"
"Oh wow, that was like, two weeks ago. Maybe even three. Why do you ask?"
In answer, he led me over to a nearby garbage can. The smell hit me from easily 20 feet away.
And there, in a plastic bag, was the most odiferous glob of liquid I think I've ever encountered.
Which, apparently, is what a half-eaten Italian sub sandwich morphs into after several days spent hiding in the door pocket of a hot van.
It was like something from an episode of “Magic School Bus”. I can see it now – Ms. Frizzle takes the kids inside one of Subway’s finest and they struggle to maintain a foothold as every element devolves into putrid slime.
It took two months of airing out for the vehicle to stop reeking.
But I swear on hot days I can still smell the ghost of that sandwich.
Copyright© 2024 Anne Morse Hambrock All rights reserved.
Books Are Here!
Today was delivery and the great unboxing!
I am thrilled with how they came out and think you will be too! Kudos to my husband for his awesome design skills and to Pat at ProForm who makes sure these books live up to my high printing standards. I am proud to say both of my books are printed here in America. I think that’s an important thing and I’m willing to sacrifice some profit on each copy to support a local printer.
The new books are listed in my online store where they await your purchasing pleasure :-)
If you are on my pre-order list, I will be contacting you via email so we can work out payment and shipping - especially those of you who have ordered several copies.
Kenosha Book Festival
If you want to grab copies of the new book in person, come to the upcoming Kenosha Book Festival this Sunday June 23. Details of the fest here.
If weather permits I will also have a harp and will be serenading passers by in an attempt to lure them into my booth :-)
Porch Progress
Back in issue #59 I whined about our leaky porch. It’s getting a makeover. Here is a the current state of things. My hubby has single-handedly demo-ed the support structure and is almost finished reframing and priming. Next phase is the roof.
Blooming
The hot weather is accelerating the bloom season - it seems as though one minute a flower opens and the next it has already dried up. Which makes me really appreciate the beauty of these lilies.
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I appreciate the feedback and knowing how often I have struck a chord with your lives.
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