Squiggles & Cars, not usually a good mix.

What a week!
I worked out of the Spartanburg Office Tuesday, did client visits in Anderson Wednesday afternoon, saved a squiggle, was recognized as the area's second top performer in my division and will be buying an Audi this afternoon. What goes around comes around and here's my example:

Wednesday night, after spending an entire afternoon driving around Anderson visiting old and prospective clients I was eager to get out of the house and so Michael and I took off on foot for dinner at Smiley's (about five blocks away on Augusta Street). Luckily we took the umbrella because it poured, my rainbows are still filthy and my lucky brand jeans soaked almost all the way to my knees. Along the way, just past the AmStar warehouse (built in 1930 and looking even older), at the bottom of the hill from the Administrative Offices of the High School in the West End we saw something in the middle of the road and cars slowing and swerving to avoid it. As we got closer we saw it was a petrified squiggle*. I panicked, @What do you want me to do, go out there and grab it?" Michael asked, "Yes!", "No!", I growled and ran out and scooped up the squirrel fully expecting an SUV to blare it's horn and readied to give the finger with one hand and hold the squirrel in the other. The squirrel though was literally scared stiff and i needed both hands.
I set him on the grass by a tree and Michael suggested (sounding only half serious) that we take it to an animal hospital. We agreed that if he was still there, and still alive we'd find an animal hospital to get him to after dinner. It was gonna be too late for dinner soon and we were both hungry.
By coincidence I chose a vegetarian meal, the baked butternut squash with mango and raisin chutney,and grilled summer vegetables over rice. I guess it's not ordered all that frequently though because it took over an hour to make it to our table, they gave us a free round of beer while we waited which was very nice. Michael I think had his standard burger, which at Smiley's is hand pattied and very juicy.
The rain had subsided by the end of dinner and we took off for home keeping an eye open for the squirrel. As we got closer I didn't see him and immediately rejoiced, "I knew he'd be alright," I thought "He regained his senses and scampered back to his family!" I was already thinking about home and was smiling from ear to ear when Michael said from behind me "Honey...?" I turned around to see him at the foot of the hill to the high school, squatting down by the railroad tracks. I hurried over and there was the squirrel, on it's side and spasming in bursts of energy trying to claw to his feet perhaps. About fifteen seconds of activity in all four of his limbs, a frantic look in his bloody eye, was followed by about a minute of stillness and wheezy breathing. I was horrified and started shrieking. I didn't know what to do. Michael very calmly said he'd just as soon put it out of it's misery under the heel of his foot as try to take it anywhere, it had been close to an hour and a half since we took him off the road, he was looking lots worse not able to get off his side and now all muddy. All his efforts and movement weren't doing anything but making the puddle wider and getting him more soaked and less appealing to handle. I continued skrieking and tried, I think, to talk to the squirrel, apologizing and telling him it's was ok.
Michael got on the phone and 411'd an animal hospital, then when he was connected he had to clarify that they accepted wild animals, squirrels. I'm sure most would relate, squirrels are wild rodents, when you see one you usually see at least two more around too. I guess Michael was a little embarrassed at the inconsequentiality of the animal his girlfriend was to tears over. He called though, and arranged to meet with a Vet Tech who would see to the squirrel. For me. Suddenly there was a chance we could save him and we needed to hurry to get out to Cherrydale to meet this Vet Tech on Call out front of Hollywood Video. I scooped up the squirrel once more and we speedwalked home, a dying filthy squirrel cradled in my hands, and my leftovers and umbrella in Michaels'. I was terrified the squirrel would freak out and die in my hands, I totally expected him to struggle but I guess he was too exhausted and too scared.
At the house I waited by the front door of our apartment as Michael grabbed a cardboard box and we took off for Cherrydale, a solid fifteen minutes drive. Michael was feeling all the more guilty because we had been at dinner for so long, but we did the right thing and rushed the squirrel to someone who could help.
The Vet Tech was there within minutes of our arrival and thanked us and assured us he woul dbe in good hands. We pulled out behind her and I sobbed aloud when we saw her pull into the Wendy's drive-thru. Back at home I cried myself to sleep even with Michael saying he'd call the hospital in the morning for a status report and ask if we can visit or bring him home.
At work Thursday morning Michael called in and told me the squirrel is alive, to which i accused him of lying to save my feelings especially when he said we couldn't go visit and relayed that it's illegal to bring a wild animal into your home. He went into detail though and said that the squirrel had suffered head trauma and was sedated and medicated and that if he recovers they fully expected to release him back into the wild. Plausible. So "Yay!"
That same morning my co-worker asked if I wanted a car, I wistfully sighed and said i was saving up for something cheap while i dream tof something german. "Like an Audi?" she said grabbing my attention, "Huh? -uhm yea, like an Audi, what's up?" She told me about a friend who was having an ex-boss's car towed from her driveway after it was as good as abandoned and that she'd be willing to give it up for $500! It's a 2000 Audi A4 with black leather interior, a six-CD changer, power windows and locks and it's only flaws are its 100K mileage and a screaming sound when you turn the wheel in drive. At $500 who cares?! It's better than the car I DON'T have currently!
I'm going to go check it out and prolly buy it this afternoon, then I'll spend my weekend tooling around town and maybe let her out along the BlueRidge Parkway. =)

That's Karma, if I don't someday come back as a squirrel to be saved by a couple of sweet scary humans then I'm getting mine in the form of a shiney car when I'd otherwise never be able to afford it. Keep your eyes out for pictures! x