Squirrels, Open Adoption, More Squirrels

Friday, January 22, 2010

On Wednesday morning, I was driving to work when I got a call from my roommate.  Apparently she had gone for a quick jaunt around the neighborhood and had forgotten to take her key with her.  I accidentally locked her out when I left for work.  Poor thing!  She sprinted to the gas station down the street and called me on the gas station owner's wife's cell phone.  To be politically correct, there was a huge language barrier between the two of them.  I can only imagine how that conversation played out.  But she was finally able to get a hold of me, and I immediately turned my all-wheel drive sleigh around.

So I headed back home, and I was coming in hot on the homestretch to my street.  Suddenly, a squirrel appeared out of nowhere and jumped directly in front of my car!  The squirrel was paralyzed in fear, and it couldn't decide which way to run.  And that's when I ran over it.  I didn't do it on purpose.  I did it because I couldn't stop in time, and ever since I first learned how to drive, my dad has burrowed it in my brain to never ever ever ever swerve for an animal because you're more likely to get in an accident by trying to avoid the animal than by just running it over.  With my dad's words playing in my head, I cringed as I heard the thump.  Much to my surprise, as I glanced in my rear-view mirror, I didn't see any roadkill.  There was no squirrel in sight.  It was the strangest thing!  I continued on my way, hurriedly unlocked the door for my rooms and I bolted to work. 

Then, later that evening, I had the amazing opportunity to be a special guest on MomTV's Adoption Angles web-show, and aside from a few kinks here and there (and a crazzzzzzy distracting echo in my ear at the beginning), I think things went pretty well...until the very end.  After the webshow was over, Melissa "signed-off" and I figured that meant my video was shut off too. My cell phone rang, and I saw that it was my roommate.  I answered it and I'm pretty sure I updated her on the squirrel scenario from earlier that day.  I think I said something along the lines of, "I cannot believe that squirrel today!" and "I hit it and it just disappeared!  I think I killed it, but I don't know.  There was no roadkill, isn't that strange?"  Then I received an instant message from one of the show's viewers who informed me that my video feed was actually still live and my personal call with my roommate was in fact being broadcast over the Internet.  So there's that. 

Just another day in the life of Amstel!  
Here's a recording of the show if you happened to miss out on my debut of Guinea-pig awkwardness:





Speaking of open adoption...
Here is one of the first pictures I took with De after babe was born.

















And here we are almost five years later!


8 comments:

Melissa said...

So the GOOD news is I do believe the recorded show ended prior to your phone convo (I've replayed your part but stopped before it went back to me..). I am so sorry .. I totally thought I had closed it down but obviously not.. Will work on that for next week's show.. LOL!

Well, Amstel-Life came Full Circle .. aren't guinea pigs related to squirrels? LOL.. ;)

Happy Friday, my friend!

Amy Hutton said...

Haha, no worried at all. I should have known to close the video box! I guess it was the adrenaline from an hour-long open adoption convo that left me a little lackadaisical.

Amstel Life has come FULL CIRCLE! I think Guinea-pigs and squirrels are probably related. And if they're not...then they ought to be.

Happy Friday Mel!

Lea Liz said...

Oh girl, Ihate you hit the squirrel but at least there was no road kill:)

Marilee said...

Poor squirrel. Don't feel bad...my dad tells me the exact same thing. Your blog won an award on my blog! =)

J said...

I loved watching the video of you and hearing your story in person! Thanks for sharing!

Rebekah said...

Just came across your story - AMAZING. I am so thankful for you and the hope you bring. Not sure if you've come across my Rebekah's blog (our birth mom), but we, too, have a wonderfully open adoption. Our little Ty is only 7 months old, but I am so encouraged to see that after all these years you and De are still bonded.

I love how you write - Deanna is incredibly gorgeous (really. I'm not just saying that) - I can't wait to spend more time on your blog getting to know you better - and I'm cracking up over the squirrel story.

Thank you for sharing your heart and story. We need more cheerleaders for open adoption!

Rebekah said...

I love your story. Its amazing and I love your heart. Im a birth mom to. Im the other "Rebekah." Its so encouraging to know that there are other stories of open adoption like mine. We are new to this but are loving every step of the way.

Rebekah

Leah said...

I just read the article written about you on the right hand side of your blog. Your heart is beautiful. I look forward to following your blog.

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