mushroom

 

Yes, I realize the resemblance to some of nature's flora, but that isn't its identity.

The object nestled on the fallen oak leaves is the oil cap for my car.

Seriously.

It laid there from Tuesday afternoon until just past noon today.

i thank You, God, that it had not been lost on the road somewhere.

Remember when I'd mentioned trying to get to a movie on Tuesday?

Remember that I had run late because I had to check my brake fluid?

Remember I'd said I'd checked my oil level, too?

Yeah.

Somehow, I'd forgotten to put the oil cap back on.

Seriously.

When I'd closed the hood, I'd heard a strange clanging noise...

and I saw the rod that holds the hood open was in the wrong place...

but I didn't notice the gaping hole where the oil cap belonged.

No.

I'd gotten in the car to head for Pooler at rush hour.

Here's the funny thing about all that: the Universe tried to tell me.

I was working in the yard on Wednesday, moving yard debris to the curb, filling a bag with stuff no one should ever touch bare-handed.

A huge, dark gray truck pulls up in the street.

"Hey, Tina, is that you?"

Who was it calling to me?

It was Sonny Maness, on his way home from a shopping trip.

How odd, right?

So we chat a bit, for the first time in over a decade.

And what had he bought?

A shiny new oil cap for his vehicle.

Not that he needed it, but because it was there.

How odd, right?

Then his phone rang and life called for his attention and he left.

What a strange encounter, I thought, as I finished up my work..

Then I was off for a second attempt at the movie in Pooler...

and I was successful!

Did I give a second thought to my oil cap?

I did not.

I had not yet realized the clanging noise on Tuesday was that cap falling out of the engine compartment from its temporary perch atop the radiator.

It wasn't until Saturday evening that I realized the oil cap was gone.

I'd treated myself to a doubleheader at the southside AMC cinema and had a lull in the action until Kevin and Carolyn would be joining me for "Hocus Pocus".

I took advantage of the time to check my brake fluid level...

and that's when I saw the hole in my engine...

the hole where the oil cap should have been.

I eventually realized what must have happened.

Then I checked back mentally -

yes, it must have been on Tuesday, when I was in a rush -

had it fallen into the engine somewhere?

No, no, it had not.

Shazbot.

That's when I remembered the clanging noise and realized what it had meant.

The hood rod must have struck it when I closed the hood.

Did that mean it had fallen into my driveway?

Or had it fallen onto a ledge in the engine and out onto the road?

There was not enough time to  go home and check.

Fine, I would simply enjoy the movie with my friends and hope for the best.

And that is what I did.

I made sure to leave plenty of time in my schedule this afternoon.

Yes, I already had the tickets for my Sunday doubleheader.

That meant I needed to have time to purchase an oil cap if need be.

But there it was, looking like an odd mushroom in the leaves.

I've cleaned it off and put it back onto my engine block.

I think I'll arrange for an overdue oil change tomorrow...

and see if that brake fluid leak can be stopped, too.

i thank You, God.