My heart has still not stopped pounding

On December 14th I flew back from spending 30 hours in Colorado. I had the privilege of being a part of a 14th birthday celebration of a student I was really close with. It was an amazing time, seeing the significant part I had played in his life up till that point, and then getting to celebrate his birthday. One of those "privileges" to be in ministry times.

So after a short delay due to weather I finally landed in San Diego around 9:30. Wearily I made my way through baggage, caught the shuttle to my car (which was parked in a garage overnight), called Jen to tell her I was heading home (she sounded very tired and said she was going to bed), and finally pulled out of the parking garage heading home.

As I made a right out of the garage I heard a weird noise from the trunk, like I had left something heavy in there. I really thought nothing of it as I made an immediate left up a big hill heading toward the highway. As I made the left I heard the thumping sound again, this time a little more pronounced. I was utterly confused, trying to pinpoint what I had put in my trunk earlier in the week.

I remember vividly making another left onto India Street, which fed into I-5. All of the sudden my whole car started shaking and I came to the dreadful realization that someone was trapped in my trunk. I called out, "hello, hello" and getting no response I started to run through the different scenario's that would explain someone stuck in my trunk. None of them were very positive.

I immediately abandoned any thought of getting on the highway and started racing down India St., not knowing what I was going to do but unable to drive slow at this point. My adrenaline was flowing.

I saw a Mobil station coming up so I immediately banged a hard left and parked in the middle of the station, right under the greatest concentration of lights.

I jumped out of my car and slowly walked to the trunk. I was faced with two choices, either go get help or open the trunk myself.

I decided on the latter because I reasoned that this had to be someone in need. Anyone who was going to do me harm hopefully would have been smart enough not to lock themselves in a trunk.

I approached the trunk slowly, clicked the lock, threw it open and jumped back.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH" my good friend Andrew yelled. I screamed as I stared at him, not really understanding what I was looking at. All I could say was "what are you doing here!"

Then everything started to dawn on me. That next day I turned 30. I caught a orange blur to my left as a HumV came cruising into the gas station. Out jumped Brad, Hayes, and my traitor wife (who obviously wasn't going to bed after all). Everyone started laughing (other than me) but I was so excited and humbled that these guys would come all the way from Denver for my birthday. One of my best birthdays ever.

I passed the birthday test because I opened the trunk. What a great way to start my 30s. Can't wait till I turn 40. Coming to a realization that someone is trapped in your trunk is not a fun feeling though, and my heart has still not stopped pounding.