Bad String Theory

I had an adventure today. I went with my friend Paul to Babies-R-Us to pick up a new crib for Jack. Paul has a Jetta and we figured the box would fit in his trunk with the back seat down. We were mostly right. The headboard was the only piece that would not fit. We tried everything we could think of but finally decided that we had to tie it to the roof of my car, which was somewhat bigger and flatter than his. So, we put it back in the big cardboard box and tied it down through the doors and around a bolt in the front of my car (to keep it from lifting in the wind) and set off. We were fine all along Rt 7 until we hit the entrace ramp to I66.

As we picked up speed I heard what I thought was more wind noise from the roof of my car. Then, all of the sudden, there was a loud whoosh and all the ropes I'd been avoiding with my head in the car went slack. I pulled over immediately and got out and noticed that all the rope along the roof was slack. I sighed that I would have to tie it up again and looked back to see what Paul was up to. He'd stopped rather far back from my car and I couldn't understand why he was so far back. That's when I realized that the headboard and blown completely off my roof.

I sank inside myself and felt the sudden fear and anxiety rise up rapidly. My God, I could have caused a major accident if that had happened in the middle of the highway. I was barely able to function I was so upset over what almost happened.

Miraculously, the damage to the headboard was mostly minimal. There are some scrapes and a gouge along the top but it is otherwise in perfect condition.

We tied it back on as best we could and set off at 40-45 MPH with flashers going. We pulled off at one of the next exists and drove until we hit a Home Depot where I ran in and bought a blue tarp (it was starting to look like rain) and two packages of nylon rope. We took off all of the old rope (crappy stuff, obviously) and wrapped the headboard up in the tarp and tied it on with all of the nylon rope.

That headboard was not going to come off again.

The tarp, on the other hand, had other plans.

As we set off again, the tarp quickly worked itself loose with all of the wind pressure on it. I pulled over soon after and asked Paul if it was just the tarp or if the headboard was having issues. He was laughing his ass off. He managed to bark out "It's just flapping like mad." So we set off again.

When we finally arrived at the new place, Paul told me that my car looked like a superhero on the road with a big blue cape behind it. He said that at one traffic light, two women pointed at my car and burst out laughing.

So, I learned that some string is not appropriate for tying down loads and that a car dressed as a superhero is a wonderful thing. Unless you are the driver (the flapping was LOUD and kept freaking me out!)

What a day...