Let me tell you the story...On Wednesday I went out to PA for the day to visit my friend Michelle and her two beautiful children! It was a lovely fall day - The leaves are starting to turn colors, the weather was gorgeous, no rain in sight! We had a great visit...got to catch up a little, have lunch & the kids had fun playing...We pack ourselves up & head on home. I was reading the directions backwards to get back to the PA Turnpike - Becky & Matthew were in the back seat arguing & hitting each other & screaming - Very distracting - I was trying to follow the signs - "Stay left for PA Turnpike", etc...Well, right as we approached the toll booth area & the kids were still screaming at each other - I was supposed to get over to the right (but is wasn't correctly marked) - I realized this as I was cruising by in the left lane and glanced over to my right and saw the lovely purple toll signs...I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, but figured it was like the GS Parkway where sometimes you go through a regular lane & then there are 2 more toll booths before you get on the highway. NOPE! Not this exit! So now I'm heading towards home, the kids settle down and fall asleep & I am going over in my head how I will explain to the toll collector what happened, what exit I got on at & hand him my $5 to pay for the toll (which was only $2.25). He had to understand my situation or at least have pity on me, right? I knew the worst case scenario would be that I would have to pay the highest toll on the card but I figured how much could it be - $4 or $5?? Well, the guy proceeded to tell me it was $19.25!! I didn't have that much cash on me nor did i have my checkbook! I was like - Now what do I do? He told me that I have to drive across all of the lanes of traffic, through the orange cones and go over to the Turnpike Building to pay the money! I just looked at him in total shock! I was so furious because this wasn't even my fault! I couldn't believe that this was happening to me - I just wanted to have a day out to visit my friend...Did I say something mean to him? Did I argue my point to him? Nope, I just broke down & started to cry! I proceeded to drive through the orange cones, parked the car, woke up the 3 kids & schlepped them into the building. I had my sunglasses on but could not stop crying! The people were like "Lady, what's the matter! Calm down...it'll be okay" (Personally, I think I really scared them!) Well, I finally sort of calmed down, told them what happened & they told me that the exit is not properly marked & I have to send in the payment for the toll, but then also gave me a claim report & told me to send that in explaining what exit & how it wasn't marked, etc. and they will refund me the money. We'll see...Anyway, looking back on it now, the whole scene was kind of funny! For those few moments when we first entered the building, I never saw Matthew & Becky be so quiet or stand so still. I think they thought I was going to jail or something! Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend - I am going to a Women's Retreat with my friend & two of my sister-in-laws - I can't wait - They're picking me up at 5pm & the kids are looking forward to a special weekend with Daddy...
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