“Hey mom can I get a ride?” – text message sent Friday at 5:15 p.m.  Just when I thought I was on track to becoming a self-sufficient adult (I have a “real” job, I buy my own groceries, I pay my rent and car payments) I suddenly felt thirteen years old again. 

Normally it wouldn’t make sense that I pay car payments but I still have to bum a ride from mommy.  But this weekend I am learning a valuable lesson: I may use my car more than I really need to.  I only live 8 blocks from where I work but every morning I find myself pulling my car into a downtown parking space. 

  But wait, there’s more!