I realize that I write a lot of blog posts about the funny things that Natalie does on an almost daily basis. It definitely keeps me entertained and I always have things to reminisce about.

With this in mind, someone challenged me to write about a ridiculous thing that I recently did last Monday while at work. I started my day off at 7:00 AM at the hospital and drove to work in my Flex because it was still cold and miserable outside and I just didn’t feel like riding my bike there. As I pulled into the physician’s parking lot, I was distracted by the Flight for Life helicopter that was preparing to take off from the parking lot about 20 yards away from me.

I waited for a couple of minutes for the helicopter to leave the parking lot before I headed into the parking lot, but it seemed that it was going to take a little longer than I had originally planned. The rotors were whipping around the air and making a ton of noise. I decided to get out and run into the building, grabbing my bag as I did.

Fast forward to 6 hours later. I’m in my office working away when a security guard walks in and asks if he can talk to me. Of course!” I said, not sure I wanted to have this conversation and rewinding through the day wondering why on earth he would want to be talking to me. “Dr. Peterson,” he says “We have noticed that your car in the parking lot has been running fr the last 6 hours. The keys are in the ignition and the driver’s door was open so we shut it off, but we just wanted you to know in case you were wondering if your fuel level was a little less than you came with this morning.”

I was so embarrassed. I couldn’t believe that I would have done this, but after thinking about it, it made a little sense. I was distracted by the helicopter and the noise was so overwhelming that as I forgot to shut off the car, I couldn’t even hear that the engine was still running as I walked away. I am now the talk of the department as somehow all the techs are well-aware of my mistake. My car still had a quarter of a tank of gas (it started with a half tank that morning) and I drove home that evening a little more humbled and understanding that it’s not just Natalie that does embarrassing things in our lives. She, by the way, was thrilled to hear this story from me later that evening.