by Janet "Jax" B.
Member since:
August 16, 2006

Pher took out the mailbox....(photos)

December 10, 2008 01:06 AM UTC
views: 0 | comments: 53

Christopher has his learner's permit, so Mike has been taking him out to drive. Now, one would think that Mike would start Pher off easy....nope. While Angela and I were at the stainglass shop, Mike wanted Pher to practise driving...in our BIG CHEVY SILVERADO (with an extended cab). There's also a cap on the back, which limits the view some also.

I get this phone call mid afternoon....

Mike: Hi Hun  (Uh-oh, that's always bad news when he starts off that way)
Me: Hi dear. What's up?
Mike: Umm, do you have any of those Home Depot gift cards left?
Me: Yes.
Mike: Where is it? I need to go to Home Depot.
Me: What did you do?
Mike: It wasn't me.   (okay..it was you too...you're the parent)
Me: What happened and what needs to be fixed?
Mike: Just the mailbox
Me: How? That box is made of oak.
Mike: Not the mailbox, just the pole.
Me: How did that happen?
MIke: Pher hit it. You'll see when you get home. Now where is that HD gift card>
Me: On the computer desk, bottom shelf.
Mike: Thanks. Don't hurry home. (and hangs up).

Okay, now I am worried.

By the time Angela and I fought traffic to get home, it was getting dark out. There's what is left of my bush that surrounded the mailbox. Hmm...no mailbox.

Next thing I knew Mike had a rope attached to the pick-up and to my bush....wham...it was pulled out...bummer.


Zach, the neighbor boy, came to help and laugh at Pher. Mike made Pher do most of the work too.

They had to make sure everything was level. Boy did Pher get a work out.

My finished mailbox....doesn't it look lonely there all by itself? I want my bushes back.
You can also see where someone tried to bash it with a bat several months ago. It didn't do too much damage, but I bet it sure hurt their hand.

It sounds like a lot of the neighbors saw Pher trying to back out of our blind driveway and pull forward right in to the mailbox.  He did dent the truck too. 2 of my neighbors had already called me before I even got home. LOL.

Pher won't drive now. I tried to get him to drive with me in the Montana, but he refuses. I'm sure he'll get over it in time, but the story won't die...it's one that I think will be brought up for a while.

Comments: 53

Kat W. Dec 10, 2008, 1:13am UTC
I'm sure that it scared him a bit. At least is was not worse and no one was hurt.
Lynn R. Dec 10, 2008, 1:15am UTC
Aw, poor kid. Tell him I had had my licenses for 10 years and backed out of a very long drive and flattened my aunt and uncles antique well pump thing they had for their mailbox holder. I was in a truck (no cap) and had just told my cousin, "if I don't watch out I'm going to hit your mom's mailbox!" BAM!!! lol It's not the end of the world and he just needed to get running over something out of his system before he 'really' gets behind the wheel. He'll do fine.
heather "chickenlips" g. Dec 10, 2008, 1:22am UTC
I'm glad that's all it was...and not a person or animal! It will take some time, but I'm sure he'll get over it :)

The day I got my permit, I pulled into the driveway and hit the gas instead of the brake and almost drove through the front of our house!

He'll be OK :)
Tiffany G. Dec 10, 2008, 1:22am UTC
lol.. I love this! Thats too funny!!!
Larry H. Dec 10, 2008, 1:23am UTC
Hey I have an extended cab pickup and I hate backing it out of the drive, and between the gates and fence. Hate backing my wife's van out too, Yes I have hit the fence and gate a couple times.. driving in once too. He will get over it one of these days,
Heather W. Dec 10, 2008, 1:41am UTC
I couldn't drive an extended cab truck if my life depended on it. I'm so used to my little car I can park sideways in a spot and still be in it heh.

But my first trip down the drive way ended up with me hitting a pole on the fence. The fence wasn't hurt and neither was my car. I thought it was funny. Now I'd probably cry after the two times I've been hit (neither were my fault, and one was a hit and run while I was at work).

Hope you get some new bushes :)
TD (aka: JaneDough) Dec 10, 2008, 2:08am UTC
Oooops. Maybe he'll get you a replacement bush for Christmas.
Crystal R. Dec 10, 2008, 2:34am UTC
Oh the tales of learning to drive. I love the photos to go along with the story.
Brian T. Dec 10, 2008, 4:05am UTC
Oh, well! It comes with the territory of having a teenager
Mary G. Dec 10, 2008, 4:28am UTC
My daughter had a head on crash and refuses to drive. Daughter really shook and avoiding my friend, as she didn't hit a strangers vehicle.

Good luck and really driving isn't easy. Nobody was hurt and the bush can be replaced.
Ariel Storm Dec 10, 2008, 5:19am UTC
Luckily nobody was hurt. In time he'll drive again. The photos tell the tale, which hopefully will fade from memory in a short time.
Lisa Frost Bailey Dec 10, 2008, 5:23am UTC
Tell Pher not to worry, it does happen. My brother hit the HOUSE. He is 45 now, and hardly hears about it at all these days...LOL
come to think of it, I will go give him a call.
Sandra H. Dec 10, 2008, 6:03am UTC
Tell him he's not the only one that has done something like that. A friend stopped by to drop something off at my house, her daughter was driving ( she had a permit and was learning to drive). She drove right over my mailbox, flattened it to the ground. It was one that I had just put up, had done decorative painting on it. Her mother made her buy me a new one and was going to make her put it up but my husband said he'd do it.....He'll hear about if or a while but eventually they will forget it happened....or not!
Marianne R. Dec 10, 2008, 7:13am UTC
He needs to learn to drive a smaller vehicle. My father made me drive his Lincoln Town Car when I had my permit. The only reason I did so well with it was because I had driven boats before. Yes, I AM serious. The car felt and handled just like a motorboat.
@**Phyllis**@ @ Mom of 2 boys@ Dec 10, 2008, 7:24am UTC
Oppsss.
I actually think kids are better off learning to drive a truck first. If they can drive a truck they can drive anything,.. : )
How old do you have to be to drive there?
Denise B. Dec 10, 2008, 7:31am UTC
Poor Pher. I am sorry about your bush but am even more sorry that Pher is taking it so hard. I hit my sisters fence and blew out the tail light of HER car when I was learning to drive. It happens. Tell him not to sweat it.
Poor Pher! Mine is learning to drive also and I know I pray everytime his Dad takes him out for another lesson. It really could have been a LOT worse. I understand him being afraid, but hopefully, he'll get over it soon. I haven't yet been in the car with mine when he's driving, but my husband tells me he's doing very well. Well, that's as long as no one speaks to him while he's driving, he got a bit ruffled this past weekend when someone in another car recognized my husband in the passenger seat and started honking and waving and son panicked and hit the brake causing the cars behind him to start honking and oh well, you can imagine what could have happened, lol. Thank you God for a safe journey home for them was all I could say.
Heather M. Dec 10, 2008, 7:54am UTC
Poor boy. He'll get over it, though. One day, he probably will even laugh about it.
Oh Pher! I'm glad it was an easy enough fix & wasn't any lasting damage.
He should get over the incident soon, but give him something easier to drive next time!
Angie G. Dec 10, 2008, 9:52am UTC
Poor Pher. I bet he feels awful and his poor ego is damaged now. Hopefully he will get over it soon and get back behind the wheel.
Dawn S. Dec 10, 2008, 9:58am UTC
oops!
tammie p. Dec 10, 2008, 10:24am UTC
oh my gosh. sorry that happened but been there done that
Sarah (I want points) Dec 10, 2008, 11:07am UTC
Poor thing. First accidents are always hard... I'm sure that he'll get his confidence back up though.
Chris E. Dec 10, 2008, 11:51am UTC
Oh poor Pher. It is not totaly his fault he is learning. Well at lest now you can plant some pretty flowers around the mailbox in the spring.
Sassy *bacon makes me happy* Cat Dec 10, 2008, 5:16pm UTC
Wow, your poor bush! That story is going to haunt him for a very looong time.
Jodie C. Dec 11, 2008, 1:10am UTC
Poor kid! Tell him my mom had been driving for 5 years when she got married and moved, so she had to take her driving test here in MN. She backed by dad's Trans Am into a dumpster. Oops!
Paula Love Dec 12, 2008, 2:04am UTC
awww poor thing! He is scarred for life, lol. But thats life and he will eal with it eventually --- as soon as he wants to go somewhere and do something with his friends, lol.
Jodie P. Dec 12, 2008, 11:20am UTC
your poor bush
The Red Headed Witch of Gather G. Dec 12, 2008, 12:06pm UTC
LOL everyone has to hit a mailbox while they're learning to drive ;)
© MrBill .. Dec 12, 2008, 5:10pm UTC
well ... it was just the post ...
Jodie C. Dec 13, 2008, 1:49am UTC
True, just the post, but still created a lot of work, and I'm sure he was embarassed!
Teresa T. Dec 13, 2008, 3:05am UTC
I loved the story. Classic hubby boo boo!
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Dec 13, 2008, 5:52am UTC
Let's hope the mailbox is all he hits while he has his permit! LOL At least it looks like your guys have lots of talents!
Jodie C. Dec 13, 2008, 11:18pm UTC
No doubt, Amanda. At least he learned to watch more carefully without hitting another person.
Phyllis R. Dec 15, 2008, 12:51am UTC
LOL at Lynn's comment but what would you expect from her?!?!?!? :O)

Poor Pher, bless his little heart....I'm ## years old and I backed into my red tips several months ago (scratched my back glass too)...it can happen to anyone!!!!
Anna m. Dec 15, 2008, 1:03am UTC
I would have kicked some man butt if he touched my bush They would have had to dig it up and move it
Angela M. Dec 15, 2008, 2:02pm UTC
aw poor kid my son tried to drive me in to the front of a moving van carp happens when your learning to drive, I hit a fence post backing out when I was learning to drive dented the whole fender in the front. He will get over it just give him some time.
Marilyn (PaintsOnSlate) S. Dec 15, 2008, 2:17pm UTC
Oh gosh, we've all done something similar at some time. It's really scary whenever it happens but especially if you're just a kid.
Bridget Jean Dec 15, 2008, 2:27pm UTC
Uh Oh, LOL!
Anne Marie A. Dec 16, 2008, 2:22am UTC
Thank goodness it wasn't a neighbor's mailbox :0)
William M. Dec 16, 2008, 6:49pm UTC
He will remember this the rest of his life.
J W. Dec 17, 2008, 4:41am UTC
good story
Kelly M. Dec 20, 2008, 1:45am UTC
LOL
Mary (diet dr pepper junkie) T. Dec 20, 2008, 6:23pm UTC
funny story....I put a 6-foot-long scratch down the side of my mom's car when I was learning to drive, because I tried to go through where there was a fence and I got too close on the passenger side! Just tell him "lessons learned!" And really he should be glad that he learned this early, because I bet it won't happen again.
flit . Dec 20, 2008, 11:10pm UTC
HMPH.... I ran into a tree and wrote off my car and I'd be thrilled to be able to drive again .... not being allowed SUCKS ROYALLY!

get thee behind the wheel, young man :) Stuff happens... and ya learn from it and go on .... I'll be watching for the announcement when you get your full license. Do it for the hummingbird :)
Kimberly Ripley Dec 20, 2008, 11:13pm UTC
Tell him not to feel bad. I hit our house once!
Billie H. Dec 22, 2008, 9:15pm UTC
Awe....He will over time.I still have a fear of backing up.So I park where I can get out.;v)Too bad about the pole and the bush.Tulips would be nice in it's place.
Heck nah, he doesn't want to drive! He's scared there'll be more work involved! ha ha
(By the way, I wrecked the driver's ed car....twice!!!!! lmao)
Beth J. Dec 29, 2008, 7:50am UTC
Oh..man... that does happen.
→ Victoria ← Jan 2, 2009, 4:08pm UTC
Aw, poor guy. Tell him I've hit a mail box before myself. And a dog. And a guard rail. And a rock wall. And a deer. And........LOL
→ Victoria ← Jan 2, 2009, 4:08pm UTC
That's too bad about the bush! It looks like it had been there a while. It was pretty big. It looks like some things I bought over the summer to plant between us and our neighbors. I forget what they're called though.

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