1.20.2009

New Cars and OCD

Last night, after I checked into my hotel and settled down for the night, it occurred to me that I may not have locked my car door.

Now, I knew that I had locked my car door. I remembered doing so. And I remembered double-checking it. But, a little voice inside my head told me very convincingly - "It is your imagination. You definitely did not lock the car door."

So, I bundled back up again (it was snowing) and hauled myself back out to the car. Of course, it was locked.

While I was outside, however, I got the bright idea that I should take my GPS inside. As I leaned over to unfasten it, I hit the horn. Oops. The poor old gentleman in front of my car coming out of his room jumped with fear.

The worse part of that was that as I was unloading the car when I arrived at the hotel, I accidentally hit the horn then also. And the same poor old gentleman (along with his equally frail wife) happened to be outside then too. So I scared the poor guy. Twice.

Anyway, after securing my GPS inside, I got ready for bed again.

Then, the little voice started up again. "You did not lock the car..."

59 comments:

Rocio @ Casa Haus said...

Hi! So nice to meet you! My husband gets the same feeling when we leave the house (did I leave any open window, did I lock the house?)

Just Lisa said...

LOL! I do this all the time! "Did I close the door? Did I unplug the flat iron? I should go home and check!"

Anonymous said...

Mine always tends to be the house. I'm getting to the end of the driveway all the time it seems and leaving the car sit while I run back to the house to check!

--- In from SITS

Jamie said...

Ahhh!!! I hate that little voice! I often have to get up to make sure that the front door is locked even though I *know* I locked it. (I always lock it right when I come in the house, but somehow that little voice gets the best of me sometimes and I have to get out of bed just to check! Better safe than sorry though!)

Formerly known as Frau said...

Too funny the poor old man! I do that too, not about the car more the iron or daughters straighter! Congrats on your SITS day!

I'm a full-time mummy said...

Haha... I'm like you too. I believe we belong to the OCD group called "The Checkers" where we feel compelled to check objects such as door locks and “off” settings on household appliances.

I blogged about it few months back (http://imafulltimemummy.blogspot.com/2009/07/ocd-who-me.html)

Stopping by from SITS & congrats! Enjoy your day! :D

pixielation said...

I love this story! Poor old guy. That nagging little voice needs a slapping!

Dropped in from SITS, enjoyed your blog!

Elizabeth D. said...

That poor little old man and his wife! I'm the same way sometimes, though, about locking the car doors, so I can totally understand! :) Happy SITS day!

Anonymous said...

I'm laughing because I just bet the old guy thought you were flirting with him the second time.....and maybe the third time when you went to check if it was locked! :D
I used to be just like that...but find if I say to myself "The door is locked." or "The coffee pot is off." etc., while I'm doing it, I remember.

The Mommyologist said...

I have done the exact same thing!! I also feel like that when my husband is out of town and I wonder at night if all the doors in the house are locked. Stopping by from SITS!

Queenie Jeannie said...

LOL! Poor thing!

I DO listen to that voice because it has saved me many, many times!!

Quasi Serendipita said...

For me it's the patio doors at night - I end up checking them so many times!

Sandy said...

Next time you are stay in a hotel, try to park on the side of the hotel outside your window. Then you can use your remote clicker (assuming you have one, doesn't everybody?) from the window!

Helen McGinn said...

*LOL* That's the kind of OCD behaviour I exhibit too.

Charlene said...

Yep - I can totally relate! I've been known to get up in the middle of the night to (remote) lock my car door!

Unknown said...

Isn't OCD just another word for instincts? LOL! came by from SITS.

Anonymous said...

I do that all of the time wondering if I have locked our back door. It is horrible. The self doubt will keep me awake until I finally get out of bed to check.

Happy SITS day!!

Jenn said...

Haha, that's why I have a coffee maker that automatically shuts off after 1 hour.
Stopping by from SITS!

The Single Chick said...

I'm so glad I joined SITS on your day. This was all too reminiscent of me, oh, everyday.....I endlessly check my purse after locking my car to make sure I have my keys.

Unknown said...

Happy Sits Day!! I have that same voice in my head!! All day yesterday while I visited with my family - It was saying -- You Left The Stove on...even though I checked and double checked...You must know how relieved I was when I got home and it was in fact off...stupid doubt...I hate it...Congratulations on your beautiful Grace!! She is very Lovely!!

Sara said...

I do this, except that little voice tells me, "Someone is stealing your car. Right now. Seriously, go look."

Congratulations on your SITS day!

Anonymous said...

I hate it when that happens. I usually have a sense that yes, I locked the door but I don't have a clear memory of doing it.

Happy SITS day!

Unknown said...

me too, me too, me too!

Rachel Lundy said...

Oh no!

Anonymous said...

You need to drive an old banger like mine, then you wouldn't need to worry...except to fret that you might have locked it and miss the opportunity for someone to nick it!

Angelia (Texas) said...

OMG I can so relate! Too funny!

My Lipstick Life said...

This is so my husband! He cannot leave the house or go to bed without checking the back door - even if he locked it 5 minutes ago! Happy Friday, SITSta :)

alessandra said...

Hahaha, so Hilarious, I used to be like this too.

Holly @ Domestic Dork said...

Oh! I HATE when that happens! Ugh!

Jenn Erickson said...

Poor guy! Probably wished he had ignored that little voice in his head that said, "did you forget to turn your hearing aide on?"

Sherri said...

You know...I have that problem with locking the house:)

Sandy said...

I can totally relate to this one! I get up a lot to check things that the voice in my head tells me to check! Poor old man;0)

Alex Fitzpatrick aka Ma What's 4 Dinner said...

I do that sort of stuff a lot too! But I feel for the old dude! :) Happy SITS.

Lani said...

Hah! I am always accidentally hitting the horn and scaring ppl!
Happy sits Day!

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous. {That sounds crazy, right?} I wish I had a voice that told me to get out of bed & check the door or car or even the back yard gate. I never remember to lock things & then I get up in the morning & just thank my lucky stars that all's well.
Congratulations on your SITS day

Date Girl said...

Hahah, omg this is too funny. My boyfriend does the exact same thing. Every day, he'll get in the house and say, "Did I lock the car?" Or we'll have hands full of groceries, or be all the way across a parking lot, and he'll have to run back and double check the doors. It kills me everytime! I've gotten to the point of saying as soon as I'm out of the car, "YES I LOCKED IT" But inevitably I'll find him sneaking back to the car to check it. Argh!!

Laura said...

That same little voice haunts me every night after I get into bed saying I forgot to lock the doors (even though I know I locked them) & I get up to check anyway.

Happy SITS!

becca said...

That voice talks to me about my oven. An the iron. Nah, who am I kidding... I don't iron.

Too funny about the little old man. He must have thought you were some cruel lady who was trying to scare him to death!

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

That's so funny - and poor guy who kept getting startled. He was probably inside his room going, I will not leave the room... I will not leave the room, then each time he left the room, there you were again.

Anonymous said...

My boyfriend does that ALL the time. Drives me crazy and makes me laugh. I know it's a blessing in disguise! Happy SITS Day!! The picture of your daughter is so precious (on your main SITS post).

Enjoy your day!

Working Mommy said...

I get that same little voice as well...and most of the time it is correct...alas. I was able to blame it on baby brain before I had my daughter...but now I have to blame it on my forgetfulness again - BOOO!

~Working Mommy

KimMalk said...

Aww. Poor couple. Did you back out and check again?
@cheapchichome.blogspot.com

Rhiana said...

LOL. This sounds just like something I would do. Every time I leave the house I have an irrational fear that I didn't turn off the stove. Even if I haven't cooked anything in days!

Holly said...

is it wrong to think that this is too funny? poor old man probably peed himself, shame on you :-)

Becky @ Babes in Hairland said...

The whole "lock the door" thing happens when I'm finally warm & snuggled into my covers at night and almost asleep and the voice is saying that my front door to the house is unlocked. Never is! Drives me nuts! Glad you didn't give the old guy a heart attack though! Hope you've enjoyed your day in the SITS spotlight!

Amy DM said...

I'm not a checker but my husband is determined to turn me into one. "Did you check? are you sure? check again!" Grrrr!

Happy SITS day.

~ Noelle said...

Glad I am not the only one... Luckily, I can just click the button. If the horn honks, it is locked...
So, I am sure my neighbors LOVE when I get paranoid and lean out honking the horn!
Visiting thru SITS ( I just joined!)

Claudya Martinez said...

I go through that so often. My husband will provoke me by asking if I locked the car and then forbidding me to go and check. It's just cruel.

Nicole @ WhenDidIBecomeMyMom.com said...

LOL. I know that little voice!!!

Julia said...

I have this thing where I dont like the maid comming in my hotel room and cleaning when I have leave during the day.

Happy SITS day!

Anonymous said...

Ok, we are WAY too much alike. I have severe OCD.

Susan @thindepenence.com said...

I do that ALL the time. In fact, I have someone that I usually beat to work, so I end up calling him and having him check my car in the winter so that I don't have to haul back out there.

Unknown said...

Happy (belated) SITS day!! Your blog is so cute!!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I'm the same way with my flat iron. I always make the hubs turn around so I can go back to the house and make sure it's turned off AGAIN. ah ha ha

Holly Lefevre said...

Story of my life. I do it with the house...and it seems every time I do not check I have actually left the keys in the door! OOPS!

foxy said...

Man, that crap happens to me ALL THE TIME. Seriously, whaddup with that?

Michelle said...

LOL. Poor old guy...did you get up again to check the locks? LOL

Over from your sits day.

Marie said...

I drive my hubby crazy every night, right before we fall asleep I ask him if he locked ALL the doors....

Meg said...

I do this all the time, except with weird stuff. For example, I may have put deodorant on 4 times today because every time I walk into the bathroom I'm certain I haven't yet.