File:1986 Chevrolet Spectrum and a Christmas "Tail" (6387084457).jpg

In the mid nineties, I lived in the Twin Cities and had an 86 Chevrolet Spectrum 2.5 door sedan. Originally a 4 door, both of the outside rear door handles had broke off and one of the inside rear door handles would not release the door. I also had a friend Angie, she traveled frequently for her job and her family was spread over several states. I would stay at her house and take care of her pets; a couple of cats and a medium sized mixed breed dog, named Zoomer, while she was away. Over Christmas Angie's family would rotate family gatherings to various states and I would take care of the pets. I would come back to Willmar for Christmas and I would bring Zoomer with me, the cats were fine for a day or two and enjoyed getting a break from that silly dog. Zoomer was a great companion that thoroughly enjoyed riding in the car. Returning from my traditional family gathering one Christmas night at about 10pm, Zoomer and I were passing through Litchfield near Lake Ripley and the tryptophan from all that turkey was overwhelming me. I spotted a Pepsi vending machine at a lawn and power equipment dealer and decided to stop and get a Mountain Dew. It was almost 30 degrees outside and the car was nice and warm, so I just popped out the car and stepped over to get my pop. Zoomer, excited to resume our journey, jumped over to the driver's seat and put her paw directly on the plunger that locks the driver's door. I moved to the rear door and reached for the handle that wasn't there. I took off around the back of the car to the passenger door past the useless rear door to the front door, but not before Zoomer jumped up to greet me and locked the passenger door. There I was 10pm Christmas night in a light fog in Litchfield in pre-cell phone times with my coat inside the toasty, warm, running car. Maybe it was a Christmas Miracle, at least a minor one, I saw someone out walking. I approached the man and discovered he was strolling off the big Holiday meal and returning to the motel next door. I explained my situation and he let me use his room phone to call the Litchfield Police. They responded quickly and shared a chuckle and got me on the road again. Once I learn something I rarely forget it. Unfortunately, it usually takes a couple times before the lesson truly sinks in. The next Christmas Zoomer, the Chevy and myself repeated the same scenario only this time it was in Cokato, at the Tom Thumb store, on the way to the Christmas Eve celebration and we were rescued by some friendly people across highway 12 at Holt Ford. The Christmas spirit even trumps the Chevy-Ford rivalry. Lesson well learned, but you need to adapt to new situations and technologies, like remote locking key fobs, an obstinate Olde English Bulldog, and a Ford Taurus. Some other time.

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