CROSS MY HEART!

I've had my red van now for 5 years.  It's been a really good vehicle for us.  Our good mechanic knew we needed a new (used) van and hooked us up with a 2001 Chevy Venture for a steal.  I was so grateful to have a back door that opened again, (had to carry Ben everywhere because I couldn't transport his wheelchair with a broken hatch) AND to have windows that rolled up and down AND to have heat in the winter and A/C in the summer.  What a luxury.  5 years later my driver side window won't roll down (that's fun when going through toll booths), the heat is barely a whiff of warmth, the A/C is gone and the gas gauge has never worked..  BUT...my back door still opens and shuts.  Ah...the gas gauge.  No big deal, right?  We just keep track of the miles.  Five years we've been doing this and never had a problem running out of gas, until now.  In less than a month I've done it twice.  TWICE!  I just can't figure it out.  This morning I loaded my middle two children and the cute neighbor girl into my car and headed up our street.  It had snowed about 1/2 an inch and so at first it felt like the car was slipping a little bit.  (DUH!)  I got to the top of the hill and turned right onto a major road, rt. 11.  The car was still slipping a little, except now the roads were clear.  We headed up for about 1/2 mile when I knew that something was wrong.  (maybe because my 'check engine' light was FLASHING!  I'm smart like that.)  I wasn't really sure what to do as this road has no good pull-offs.  The car sputtered and stuttered and finally came to a complete stop.  Have you ever tried to maneuver a car that has no power?  Good times.  I jammed on my breaks to stop us from rolling and then turned my hazards on.  That's when I threw my car into neutral and decided to let it coast backwards, the wrong way down rt. 11.  (closer to my house and hoping to get off the busy road)  My kids played the duck and hide role out of extreme embarrassment, especially since it was rush hour school traffic and all their friends were staring at us as they passed/drove by.  (I love when my kids are mortified by me...makes me laugh)  "Everybody smile and wave!"  I say in my most sarcastic and cheery voice.  We made it back to the Gunstock Inn's parking lot which is located just up the street from my house where a working truck with 3 guys were sitting and waiting for me to pull in.  I jump out of the car since the windows are broken, still in my pajamas, and yell "I'm all set thank you!"  My phone starts ringing off the hook.  (it's a small town)  Not more than a minute later I have a couple of friends taking the kids to school and me to my house to get the gas can.  I say good bye to the kids and wonder what kind of story the neighbor girl will have for her mom when she gets home from school.  Maybe she'll tell her what MAD reverse maneuvering skillz I have.  Then again...maybe not.  In the meantime, I promise, cross my heart, that I will never (hopefully) let my car run dry again.  

And in honor of my 'RESCUE-EES', I made these.