This requires a lot or batteries and organizing. I went down to my car in an underground garage around 5 and opened my hatchback to put all the freshly charged batteries into the radio slaves and flashes. My ETA at the President's house was 5:30. I shut the hatchback and heard the car lock.
With my keys inside.
I pondered this predicament quickly, then ran up the stairs, out of the garage, and across the street to the BU Police Station. I'm fairly friendly with these guys since they've seen me around for years. Two were standing outside and I ran, out of breath, up to them.
"Are you ok?" one asked.
"Yes, totally fine, but I locked my keys in my trunk and I'm a photographer for the university and I'm supposed to be covering an event at the president's house at 5:30...well, actually 6PM...and do you have the thingies that can break into my car or can you break my window for me?"
No, they don't have the thingies, and they will not break the window for me, but, they did call parking and security for me. That was not helpful, so Sgt Nuzzi popped his head out into the lobby and advised me to call a nearby towing company. I did that.
Then I texted the event planner over at the president's house to fill her in.
And then I waited. I called tow company again at 5:30, impressing upon them that "I'm sorry but I really am on a time crunch". The driver was stuck in traffic, I was told, and by this time, Sgt Nuzzi had left the station and returned again, and he stood outside with me waiting for the tow guy while I paced back and forth and practiced deep breathing.
I texted the event planner again "Can you have the crew move the couch away from the wall in the green room, remove the coffee table and get the plush chair on the right out of the way?"
"Already done"
Sweet.
When the giant truck turned the corner, Nuzzi waved him down and helped us into the garage by using a card pass in the elevator that only fancy people can use.
In a second, my car was open. It was 6PM at this point, and the event I was supposed to be at a half hour ago in order to set up my lights was now starting. I realized I owed the towing company payment, and asked if I could give him my card and could they send a bill to that address?
Nuzzi took the card and said "I'll deal with it. Are you OK on time?"
I wasn't, but I told him I was anyway. I'd been enough of a damsel in distress for one night, though I did later wonder if I'd turned down a police escort! I hauled ass over to the President's House and set up with no issues. The staff there has been working with me for years, and I think they trusted that I could pull it together. Plus, with guests requesting vegan, gluten free, almond only meals at the last minute, I was the least of their concerns.
The evening went fine, and I headed home, breathing a sigh of relief. As I drove along Memorial Drive the moon was rising, and I pulled over to photograph it. When I got back in the car, I checked my email, and found one from Sgt Nuzzi. The subject line was "car Keys Incident"
Cydney Scott
This is Sgt Nuzzi who was with you regarding your mishap with your car keys at the Agganis Arena. You are all set with Stadium tow. I have taken care of it. Hope the rest of your evening goes well.
Sgt Pat Nuzzi
I stared at it for a moment and let that settle in. I pulled out from the curb and welled up at the thought of a man (a man other than my dad) being nice to me. While I probably could have expensed the bill from the towing company to BU, it was still a really nice gesture that he handled it for me.
I bought him a gift card to the nearby coffee shop (the BUPD is a block form my office) and delivered it this morning.
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| I didn't get an in-process shot because he opened it so fast! |
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| the moonrise over Boston |
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