Something very disturbing was brought to my attention last week. It all started from a phone call from another BFF of mine, Heather. She and her husband bought a new Honda Odyssey van at the end of summer. About 3 weeks ago their fuel pump went on the new car. So they had it serviced and considered it a fluke incident. Then last week it happened again. Needless to say they were very upset because this is a brand new car. Why all these problems??
Honda's official response to this incident was that there was a rodent's nest somewhere under the hood and that they ate through the fuel pump wire.
Ok- just when I thought I had heard it all... this happens. I mean it's not as if I already don't have enough irrational fears of mice/rodents now I have this to think about. My realm of possibilities has sadly grown bigger now. This is one of those stupid things that you hate to think about. It ranks right up there with the irrational fear of eating a spider in your sleep.
You know there are already enough issues to worry about when owning and driving a car. Now this needs to be added to the list.
After this news spread through our little circle, Kristin A. did some online research about this. Apparently this does happen. Even Kristin J. (my other BFF) says she has actually seen it. When she was younger she was looking at a used car with her father and when they opened the hood, baby mice were running everywhere. (I don't know what I was more shocked about... the fact that she witnessed this horrid scene or that it has never come up on conversation over the years.) Kristin A. said this happened to her aunt too. But both of these incidents were with vehicles that had not been driven for long lengths of time.
That brings me back to poor, traumatized Heather (... oh wait I am the traumatized one.) She drives that car multiple times a day. How could this happen unless they were the "Extreme Home Makeover" team in the rodent world. They would have had to come in and set up shop in a matter of 12 hours. They have to be pretty resilient to stick around after multiple drive times, speeds, and three little kids getting in and out.
Ok- now I am starting to feel a little sorry for them (the rodents) now. I guess they were just trying to provide a safe, warm home for their young. What parent can't relate with that situation?
As I may understand their survival plight it just better never happen in my truck.
I just am not that strong... a mental breakdown would be just around the corner.
Right after the initial call from Heather, I quickly dialed Brian's cell phone.
He was in the woods, hunting.
Brian answers in a whispered voice, "What's up?"
Me in a panicked whispered voice (have you ever noticed that you whisper when someone is whispering to you?), I quickly tell him the story. "OMG Heather's fuel pump.... rodent's nest...(blah, blah, blah)....and Johnston was looking with her father....(blah, blah, blah),.... and Atkinson's aunt.... (blah, blah,blah)....is this really possible?.... (blah, blah, blah)...." five minutes later.
Brian- still whispering, "okayyy? Is that it? are you ok?"
Me, "No, I'm not. What if they are in my car? I don't think I can drive until you check it."
slight pause
Brian, "Yeah, Bone, I have to go now... we'll , uh, talk about this later."
Me, resigned to the fact that he wasn't rushing out of his tree stand to come to my emotional and mental rescue with shotgun in hand ready to defend me against anything that moved, "ok."
I spent the rest of the day with heightened senses. Everything that moved in my peripheral vision I sharply acknowledged and franticly wondered if it was a mouse. Was it mouse parents scoping out my truck as their new spacious, open floor plan dream home?
No, it was always a squirrel running by. I was driving myself crazy!
~
Before he left for another hunting trip and after quite a lot of begging from me, he inspected my truck. Thank goodness there are no signs of another family living in there.
The funniest thing is that Kristin A. had an appointment the next morning for an oil change. She told me that she asked the mechanic to also check for rodent's nests. She said he looked at her as if she had 3 heads and reluctantly typed it in on the work order.
Hey, there is definitely something to be said about peace of mind. In my opinion we have to have all our wits about us in the never ending, universal, "rodent world domination" plot against us frightened women.
:)
