I'm positive that my sister would tell this story a little differently than I. But for now, the following story is being told how I remember the events that unfolded that LONG Saturday morning....
The bridal shop decided to ship my wedding dress and require a signature upon delivery. For a week I freaked because I kept missing the delivery.Who is at home at noon on a Wednesday anyways? So, Wednesday and Thursday Fed Ex continued to tease me, sticking an attempt to deliver notice on my door...
By Thursday night I was getting nervous so I called 1.800.GoFedEx and asked what I need to do to get my wedding dress. The customer service rep stated that the delivery was on the truck and will be attempted one more time and then taken down to Ottumwa, Iowa for a week and then shipped back to the return address. I begged to have it delivered somewhere closer than Ottumwa (which is about 2 hours away). The rep stated that the FedEx location in Ottumwa was open on Saturday from 8-10am, that was the only place I could pick it up and that I needed the door tag and a photo ID.
Enter-- my lovely sister! I called Nikki on Thursday and very sweetly asked if she'd be willing to get up at 7am on a SATURDAY and drive with me to get my dress. She agreed with very little complaining as long as it included breakfast.
When I got home from work on Friday, the third attempt door tag was sticking to my front door; I grabbed it and threw it in my car.... Being the very forgetful person that I am, I was very proud I was going to remember the door tag!
Saturday morning rolled around and Nikki and I climbed in the car for a very long ride and a very boring senectic road to Ottumwa, Iowa. Josh stayed at Grandma's house the night before so Nikki and I were actually very excited for some one on one sister time. We talked a million miles a minute all the way down there.
About 15 minutes outside of Ottumwa I told her that I had no idea where I was going and below are the events that unfolded as I remember them....
9:00am
· 1st thing that went wrong- Nikki couldn't believe I didn't have an address, I said, 'Well, that's what GPS on cell phones is for.... but..... My phone is about to die so I hope yours works!'
· 2nd thing that went wrong- Nikki's cell phone was charged, but wouldn't load Google maps without having to reboot her phone each time.
9:00am
· 1st thing that went wrong- Nikki couldn't believe I didn't have an address, I said, 'Well, that's what GPS on cell phones is for.... but..... My phone is about to die so I hope yours works!'
· 2nd thing that went wrong- Nikki's cell phone was charged, but wouldn't load Google maps without having to reboot her phone each time.
9:15am
· We got my phone to last long enough to Google the Fed Ex address while Nikki reboots her phone, we were on our way!!
· 3rd thing that went wrong- We got off on the wrong exit and realized that Ottumwa, Iowa is a very dirty town... I pulled into a gas station to turn around and there were flashing cop cars all over. What kind of place needs cops at 9:17am anyway??
9:17am
· Nikki and I are getting extremely silly and cannot stop laughing!
· We got my phone to last long enough to Google the Fed Ex address while Nikki reboots her phone, we were on our way!!
· 3rd thing that went wrong- We got off on the wrong exit and realized that Ottumwa, Iowa is a very dirty town... I pulled into a gas station to turn around and there were flashing cop cars all over. What kind of place needs cops at 9:17am anyway??
9:17am
· Nikki and I are getting extremely silly and cannot stop laughing!
9:20am
· Back on the road again, following the directions
9:25am
· 4th thing that went wrong- We head into a residential area, turn around a couple times, and realize there can't be a Fed Ex around here and the address we are following from Google is NOT correct!
9:32am
· A Fed Ex truck pulls in front of us, we attempt to follow it!!
9:37am
· Fed Ex truck is making too many turns in the residential areas to be going back to the shipping office.
· 5th thing that went wrong- ATTEMPT HAS FAILED!!!
· Fed Ex truck is making too many turns in the residential areas to be going back to the shipping office.
· 5th thing that went wrong- ATTEMPT HAS FAILED!!!
9:40am
· We Googled a NEW address in Ottumwa for Fed Ex and on our way we go.. Petal to the metal, I'm starting to freak out!
· We Googled a NEW address in Ottumwa for Fed Ex and on our way we go.. Petal to the metal, I'm starting to freak out!
9:47am
· We arrive in an area of town that looks like a bunch of factory buildings. My hopes start to go up... I fight back the tears...
9:51am
· 6th thing that went wrong- No Fed Ex in sight. I start rasiing my voice, and Nikki doesn't know what to do, I pulled over to the side of the road and asked her to call 1.800.Fed.Ex, maybe they have the Ottumwa offices phone number since Google SUCKS! Nikki starts to dial as she looks over her shoulder and points out the window to 20 Fed Ex trucks!!! We found it!
9:53am
· 7th thing that went wrong- It's only a shipping and receiving building! (trying to hold back the tears)
9:54am
· I'm shaking now and a little hysterical...
· I look down at the door tag and read...
· I look at Nikki and say, 'Ummmm, lets go home :) !'
· Nikki looks at me and says, 'WHAT DID YOU DO?? Tell me WHAT DID YOU DO!?'
· I hand Nikki the door tag and she reads....
· We arrive in an area of town that looks like a bunch of factory buildings. My hopes start to go up... I fight back the tears...
9:51am
· 6th thing that went wrong- No Fed Ex in sight. I start rasiing my voice, and Nikki doesn't know what to do, I pulled over to the side of the road and asked her to call 1.800.Fed.Ex, maybe they have the Ottumwa offices phone number since Google SUCKS! Nikki starts to dial as she looks over her shoulder and points out the window to 20 Fed Ex trucks!!! We found it!
9:53am
· 7th thing that went wrong- It's only a shipping and receiving building! (trying to hold back the tears)
9:54am
· I'm shaking now and a little hysterical...
· I look down at the door tag and read...
· I look at Nikki and say, 'Ummmm, lets go home :) !'
· Nikki looks at me and says, 'WHAT DID YOU DO?? Tell me WHAT DID YOU DO!?'
· I hand Nikki the door tag and she reads....
WE LEFT YOUR PACKAGE AT: Total Choice Shipping. 800 4th Ave Grinnell, IA
9:58am
· Back on the Interstate headed home
· 8th, 9th and 10th that went wrong- Nikki is PISSED! She said she was going to KILL me! And it's NOT funny....
11:53am
· We arrive at Total Choice shipping and they hand me my wedding dress, without proof of door tag or photo ID, but the dress is safely in my arms and my sister lets me live!!
