August 12th--Long drive is over--short story

Someday I am sure I will laugh about tonight, or forget it.  Around 9:30 this evening I decided to go for a walk and sent a text to let my daughter know.  Then I realized that I should switch over my laundry first, so I did.  When putting the clean stuff away I heard rain drops falling outside my window.  So maybe no walk.  I really wanted to though.  I decided to see how bad it really was out there and then make the decision whether or not to do so.  I still needed to get my shoes and some other things out of the car and maybe find a hat, so out I went, barefoot into the street.  I gathered a few things that I still wanted in the house for tonight, decided maybe a shower and sleep might be in order instead, and headed back to the house.
When I got to the door I found it had locked behind me.

Phew, I had the key.

It wouldn't unlock.

I tried and tried while holding my stuff.  I put stuff down and tried some more, no luck.  I went back to the van.  I looked for my phone...

Nope, must have left that in the house.  My daughter and her husband would be home soon, so I figured I would try to nap.

Nope, I guess sleeping in the car last night was enough for a bit.   I went back to the door, empty handed this time, and tried it again.

Nope.  Back to the van... I had my driving license in my pocket, I could go to McDonald's and get some dinner... but I had already had that for lunch so I vetoed that idea.  I dug my shoes out of a bin and put them on.  I tried the door one last time and headed out for a walk in the rain, it was 10:30.

I decided to just walk back and forth on the road I expected them to use to get home.  I had the key and thought they would need it.  I was feeling rather upset with myself over the whole thing.  I didn't remember closing the door or leaving my phone behind.  I was tired.  I walked back and forth along the street, rain dripping down my nose and covering my glasses, 2 times and then tried the door again.

Nope.  I only needed about 600 more steps to reach my goal and so I went a little down the road and then around their little block.  Around 11:20 I was on the second time around when they drove by, waving.  I walked up to them, gave them the key and explained the situation.  While they tried to unlock the door, I got my pillow and other things I had originally set out to do back out of the van.

The lock...is broken.

Which brings me to today's happy-They had a key to the basement and my daughter hadn't thrown the non-key bolt to that door so we were able to get in.

What did I learn from this?  Don't lose my hat when I hike the AT.  Rain on the glasses is not a good thing.

More Pennsic and drive stuff tomorrow, because sleep is a thing.

Gnomes at a gas station in Pennsylvania.

Monarch in Connecticut.