THE SQUEAL OF TIRES, followed by thuds, disrupted our almost-asleep state of being Tuesday evening. “What was that?” I asked Randy. I was more curious than alarmed.
We live along a busy street in Faribault. Odd and loud noises are not uncommon. But, on a week night at 11 pm, this did seem out of the ordinary. Randy waited a bit, then rolled out of bed to check. Curiosity will always get you. He saw nothing except a torn-up patch of boulevard grass outside our bedroom window. No vehicle in sight.
I asked if we should call the police. “What would they do?” Randy asked. He was right. We had nothing to report except the sounds and the displaced patch of lawn. The vehicle was long gone.
Morning shed more light on the situation. Black tire tracks curved toward the curb next to the boulevard. It is likely accurate to assume that a driver was going too fast down Tower Place (the hilly side street by our corner lot) and lost control while turning onto Willow Street. Oops. Should have slowed down and stopped at the bottom of the hill. We’re just thankful he/she did not continue on, plowing into our bedroom.
This is not the first time we’ve dealt with vehicle-related issues on our property. A tire once fell off a car and rolled down the hill, slamming into the side of our house, just missing the gas meter and pipe. Other times vehicles have jumped the curb on icy streets. One landed half-way across our side yard, taking out the stop sign on the way.
While outside examining the lawn damage and tire tracks Wednesday morning, I happened upon a rectangular box tossed on the grass near the stop sign. It was an empty box once containing 2.0 grams of Sunset Sherbert hybrid distillate disposable vape. Pluto Labs, THE FUTURE OF CANNABIS, LIVE RESIN, the box read. I don’t pretend to know much about cannabis, except that the Minnesota legislature recently approved the use of recreational marijuana. But that doesn’t take effect until August 1.
Then I flipped the box to read that this was a SCHEDULED 1 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE… THE INTOXICATING EFFECTS OF THIS PRODUCT MAY BE DELAYED UP TO TWO HOURS. THIS PRODUCT MAY IMPAIR THE ABILITY TO DRIVE OR OPERATE MACHINERY, PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION.
It made me wonder. Did the out-of-control driver toss this empty box from his/her vehicle just before rounding the corner and then slamming into and jumping the curb onto our lawn? The dots seem to connect.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
wow, that is all so scary. I suspect you may be right about all of it
It was a little frightening.
it must have been –
SCARY! Our home sits on a curve with a slight rise and luckily no instances. Plus we have a power transformer, light pole, mailboxes, and cable boxes along that stretch too. We have heard the transformer blow due to surge or weather and it is eerie sounding in the wee hours of the night. I am so glad you two are SAFE – geez! Take Care – Enjoy your day.
Blown transformers can be quite scary, too. I’ve heard them many times.
Oofta, scary and frustrating. I can’t imagine having these sort of things happening often. One time, I was at my in-laws, sleeping on the floor with the grandbabies, when a drunk-driver’s car jumped a curb and nearly hit the front window. I woke enraged, thinking if they had come through the wall, they might have hurt my grandbabies! Some folks have no idea what kind of danger they put others in when they drive under the influence of substances, or strong emotions…
You nailed it. People don’t stop and think. Glad you were all OK.
Of busy streets, residential areas and :recreational drugs. What a combination! Those who wanted legalized marijuana seem to have made great strides in talking what was a felony and now converting it into a no-big-issue. Alcohol and driving (any of many activities) do not mix and neither does use of marijuana or byproduct. What we need now are classes with a Physics Course aimed at everyday living. The other issue for :legal” drug use is the fact that it sets the stage for a lifestyle change by bad example. I know of 2 parents who used “legal” recreational drugs only to come home to find their daughter had overdosed on something slightly less than legal.
I’m with you on this, Gunny. Legalizing marijuana is not something I support, for the reasons you list and more. When it’s personal, it means even more.
Oh, and people who litter your yard are consummate egotistical turkeys.
Our yard is a bit like a landfill. I’m exaggerating, of course, but we find plenty of garbage.
I’m glad the vehicle didn’t hit your house. Scary.
Me, too.
I don’t know, but there might be fingerprints on the box, or the PD could possibly locate the driver by checking places where the merchandise was sold. Maybe I watch too many crime shows on TV?
If the driver had crashed into our house or done more serious damage, I would assuredly follow up on this. At the moment, I think this cannabis product is not legally for sale in Minnesota.
Hmmmmm.
Exactly. Hmmmmm.
Oh, my! So glad nothing was worse!
Me, too.
Wow, yes the dots do connect.
I thought so.