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life{in}grace

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I Brake for……..

by 61 Comments

Have you ever ridden with anyone who was a brake pumper?  Who, say 75 feet before you reach a light that’s red, pumps the brakes 4 or 19 times?  And then even after you’re at a complete stop, pumps 3 more times.  And if you were mid sentence during the pumping, you’re sentence would become, “Do. you. still. want. to. go. see. the. King. Tut. Ex.hi.bit?”   And after a whole ride to church , a mild case of whiplash ensues.
Well, Stevie is a pumper.  Sunday mornings he drives us to church in his car.  Because it would take 25 minutes for me to clean mine out enough so that he could sit in the front seat.  And then he’d try not touch any surfaces and he’d look around as if he were scared and then ask when was the last time I changed the oil.  So, taking his car is way easier.  His car is pristine and devoid of any evidence that he has eight children and two dogs.  With a full tank of gas. And recently changed oil.  Mine screams, “This woman has 14 children and 5 shedding dogs and is apparently legally blind”.  
 I can’t remember how I pointed out the pumping to him.  I don’t think I said, “Hey,can you ease up on the pumping?” I think it was more like, “Have. you . ever. noticed. how. Eddie. pumps. the. brakes. a. L.O.T. when. he. drives?”  Eddie is his dad…. who happens to be one of my favorite people. But Stevie comes from a long line of pumpers.
I say all that to say that Stevie is so sweet and now is conscience of his pumping.  He apologized for pumping last week and I didn’t even notice the pumping. that. time.   We all have little things that we do that we probably aren’t even aware of.  I’m glad he doesn’t write this blog or he’d tell you all mine.  But he could just have easily said, “Look, I’m a pumper.  And that’s just Who.I.Am.  Deal with it.  Or clean your car out.”  But instead he thinks of others and lets this new awareness ‘in’.  I don’t know why, but that makes a girl go weak in the knees.  It makes me thankful that I’m married to a man who says I’m sorry and who is willing to rethink the way he drives his car.  
I imagine that when he’s alone, he pumps those brakes a lot. and real hard.  Just. because. he. can.  But what a man to keep the ride smooth as silk when the girls and I are with him. Or to at.least.try.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sandy Toes says

    I can’t handle a “pumper” unless there is “ice” or “snow”. How nice of him to keep it smooth! Great hubby you have!
    -sandy toe

    Reply

  2. Mandi says

    I HATE to be behind a pumper because it is like a bunch of false alarms as to when they are really stopping, and if you don’t brake every time too you just might rear end them.
    I can just see you all in his perfectly clean car. You must be so proud! I wish I could get my hubby to keep his clean. It is the opposite in our house.

    Reply

  3. gina says

    I am a speed up only to slam on brakes at the next light type of person – so to say I have a hard time tolerating pumpers is an understatement. What’s worse are people that touch their brakes on the HIGHWAY for no apparent reason. But that wasn’t the point was it? It was your husband’s ability to hear you and his willingness to accomadate your needs- how wonderful!! What an example he is setting for your children. 🙂

    Reply

  4. Dana and Daisy says

    My Steve’s driving scares the heck out of me. When I say anything, he pulls over, NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE, and gets out and says YOU DRIVE!

    So, yes I can appreciate that your Stevie tries.

    My first clue was on our first date, and then a date a few times later. But I stuck with him. He has other good things going for him. But somehow after marriage, the faults seem to stand out more than before the wedding bells. I mostly drive us everywhere now. But I wish sometimes to be carried to wherever we are going. He has only totaled one car during our six years together, so far, knock on wood. He has a heavy foot and then he brakes last minute, so I think I could trade you for the pumping!

    Reply

  5. Sarah says

    I guess we each let the other know how they are doing, but usually both end up laughing about who "thinks" they are the better driver.
    My DH's while not that clean, it has gas & fresh oil.
    But he's so sweet if he see's I'm low on gas he'll just go fill it up & have it washed (he knows it safe to wash the outside dirt – but not the dirt on the inside)

    Reply

  7. Musings of a Homeschooling Mom says

    It’s sweet that he is trying to not pump as much for you! I have an issue with depth perception when I am not driving. I think Ernie’s going to hit the person in front of us when stopping and freak. He has been trying to slow down sooner when he’s driving. It is so nice. But if I comment on it he becomes aware of it and it seems to get worse!

    My car STAYS a mess! And I cannot seem to remember to get my oil changed! Ernie’s on the other hand is spotless and oil is always changed on time.

    Reply

  8. Jessica says

    That is one good man to listen and then try to change. My husband is one of those leg shakers and it drives me nuts. I’ve noticed his dad and his brothers do it too. The problem is, if I sit next to him then I’m shaking too. It’s been a hard thing for him to stop but I will give him credit, he’s gotten a lot better at staying still for me.

    Reply

  10. Meme says

    You, my dear, are hilarious, and so are your commenters! Pure delight! And isn’t it funny how we are the exact opposite in my family. It would take my hubby 40 minutes to clean out his front seat, and I silently curse when he takes the suburban because I know it is coming back empty of gas but full of dog hair and spilled milk and lots and lots of NERDS….

    Reply

  12. Queen to my 3 Boys says

    That’s funny!

    No need for pumping. Even on ice or snow. That’s what anti-lock brake systems are for. *wink*

    I’m getting better, but I’m more like one of those full-on-the-brakes-or-full-on-the-gas kinda girls.

    Reply

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