Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.
We have been friends with our next door neighbors for years, even before we moved into this house 12 years ago. We had kids the same ages going to the same schools. We’ve shared our lives with a cup of coffee or over a glass of wine. When their son got married a few years ago, we housed the photographer and his son. When their daughter was married last fall, we offered our driveway to parking. My husband made a sign “Guest Parking.”
My neighbors knew they would be out of town for Maggie’s wedding, so they offered their house for my family to stay in. My sister and her family slept there, but many of us parked our cars there.
When my friend returned home Saturday night, a day early, she texted me. I told her it wasn’t a problem for my sister’s family to move back to our house. But we left the cars in the driveway. At 9:30, I got this text:
“Do not love the cars.”
I started fuming. I decided to be cool and responded, “We’ll move them.” And sent my brother-in-law over to start moving cars back to our driveway. I had many not-so-nice thoughts run through my head. Luckily I didn’t text any of them.
Shortly after, she called and left me a frantic message, “I didn’t mean love! I meant move! Do not move the cars!”
I returned her call, and we laughed about it.
My brother-in-law’s wisdom was “Trust the relationship. Not the auto-correct.”
Lesson learned. In this day of quick fingers and auto-correct, we must remember that friends are friends. “I get by with a little help from my friends!”
Reflections on the Teche 
Perfect story! And the wisdom is a great reminder!
“Trust the relationship. Not the auto-correct.”
What a gift to have such a neighbor! I’m glad you got everything straightened out too.
I just shared this story with my family and we are all laughing! That’s a good one!
So funny! And so good you kept your cool. Maybe it was an autocorrect malfunction!
I love this story! Auto correct sometimes drives me crazy!
It is a whole different world, isn’t it? In the past, she would have come by for a quick chat and said no worry about the cars. That auto-correct can be a laugh and a disaster. Thanks, Margaret, with your intro, I was surprised at the text too! Have a wonderful day doing the ‘after wedding party’!!
What a great lesson to be learned from a typo on a text message, Margaret. I would have never got the right message from what was typed but all is well. Trust the friendship is right.
What a great story! I hate auto correct!
Great story! I have many of those types of messages from my husband. We always laugh at the end of the day.
Such a wonderful lesson in “practicing the pause”. I wish I had learned this 40 years ago but thankful it’s currently becoming a part of my life.
It’s never too late!
I love “Trust the relationship – not the auto-correct.” Sage advice!
Great story!
So important:“Trust the relationship. Not the auto-correct.”
What a great slice! This is like a modern tech version of Robert Frost’s lines “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” 😉
What a great story! Thanks for giving me a chuckle!
Perfect! You have made my morning, Margaret, and it’s not even 7 AM. 🙂
Wise to hold your counsel!