--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In an internal panic, I picked up the…" description: "\"“In an internal panic, I picked up the phone and hurriedly pushed redial. I had to catch Rhonda the Realtor, had to tell her wait, hold off, don’t let ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ree-drummond-818_another-day_in-an-internal-panic-i-picked-up-the-pho_1171561.png" --- # In an internal panic, I picked up the phone and hurriedly… ![“In an internal panic, I picked up the phone and hurriedly pushed redial. I had to catch Rhonda the Realtor, had to tell her wait, hold off, don’t let it go, I’m not sure, hang on, give me another day…or two…or three. But when the numbers finished dialing, I heard no ringing; instead, in a perfect…” quote by Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ree-drummond-818_another-day_in-an-internal-panic-i-picked-up-the-pho_1171561.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ree-drummond-818_another-day_in-an-internal-panic-i-picked-up-the-pho_1171561.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ree-drummond-818_another-day_in-an-internal-panic-i-picked-up-the-pho_1171561.png) > ““In an internal panic, I picked up the phone and hurriedly pushed redial. I had to catch Rhonda the Realtor, had to tell her wait, hold off, don’t let it go, I’m not sure, hang on, give me another day…or two…or three. But when the numbers finished dialing, I heard no ringing; instead, in a perfect moment of irony, coincidence, and serendipity, I heard Marlboro Man’s voice on the other end. “Hello?” he asked. “Oh,” I replied. “Hello?” “Hey, you,” he replied. So much for calling Rhonda the Realtor. Three seconds into the phone call, Marlboro Man’s voice had already taken hold. His voice. It weakened my knees, destroyed my focus, ruined my resolve. When I heard his voice, I could think of nothing but wanting to see him again, to be in his presence, to drink him in, to melt like butter in his impossibly strong arms. When I heard his voice, Chicago became nothing but a distant memory. “What’re you up to?” he continued. I could hear cattle in the background. “Oh, just getting a few things done,” I said. “Just tying up a few loose ends.” “You’re not moving to Chicago today, are you?” he said with a chuckle. He was only halfway joking. I laughed, rolling over in my bed and fiddling with the eyelet ruffle on my comforter. “Nope, not today,” I answered. “What are you doing?” “Coming to pick you up in a little bit,” he said. I loved it when he took charge. It made my heart skip a beat, made me feel flushed and excited and thrilled. After four years with J, I was sick and tired of the surfer mentality. Laid-back, I’d discovered, was no longer something I wanted in a man. And when it came to his affection for me, Marlboro Man was anything but that. “I’ll be there at five.” Yes, sir. Anything you say, sir. I’ll be ready. With bells on.”” [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sudden, unexpected attraction overwhelms rational plans, causing distraction and emotional upheaval. **In simple terms:** Unexpected desire disrupts focus. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage impulsive feelings. Themes desire distraction emotion impulsivity romance Mood flushed excited conflicted Type narrative personal romantic When to use this quote - selling a house - receiving a call - meeting a charismatic person - dealing with distraction Key Concepts psychology attention infatuation Questions to Reflect On - What does this attraction reveal about my current needs? - How can I stay grounded during sudden emotional spikes? A Different Perspective Impulse can lead to poor decision‑making if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Perfect moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-moment/) [Phone call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-call/) [Sick and tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick-and-tired/) ## Related quotes > [“Marlboro Man’s call woke me up the next morning. It was almost eleven. “Hey,” he said. “What’s up?” I hopped out of bed, blinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/marlboro-man-s-call-woke-me-up-the-next-morning-it-was-almost-eleven-2/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I brushed my teeth like a crazed lunatic as I examined myself in the mirror. Why couldn’t I look the women in commercials who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-brushed-my-teeth-like-a-crazed-lunatic-as-i-examined-myself-in-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I hopped in the car and headed toward the ranch. I almost fell asleep at the wheel. Twice. Marlboro Man met me at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-hopped-in-the-car-and-headed-toward-the-ranch-i-almost-fell-asleep/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“It’s a girl,” I heard Marlboro Man tell his mom. Nurses dabbed my bottom with gauze. “Ree did great,” he continued. “The baby’s fine.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/it-s-a-girl-i-heard-marlboro-man-tell-his-mom-nurses-dabbed-my-bottom/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Life's not perfect. Some loose ends may never get trimmed up and tidied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoda-kotb/life-s-not-perfect-some-loose-ends-may-never-get-trimmed-up-and-tidied/) [Hoda Kotb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoda-kotb/) > [“...for me, being a detective isn’t just about solving a case. It’s about bringing a resolution to all the loose ends, and to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zechariah-barrett/for-me-being-a-detective-isn-t-just-about-solving-a-case-it-s-about/) [Zechariah Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zechariah-barrett/) > [If you see to it each day that your conduct is impeccable, the following day will be completely clear, and you will be free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omraam-mikhael-aivanhov/if-you-see-to-it-each-day-that-your-conduct-is-impeccable-the/) [Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omraam-mikhael-aivanhov/) > [“He felt at loose ends with himself like a man in a foreign city where he didn’t know the language. He felt out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-miller/he-felt-at-loose-ends-with-himself-like-a-man-in-a-foreign-city-where/) [William Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-miller/) > [“But, of course, everyone has regrets. Loose ends. Things they could do if they had more time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mckenzie/but-of-course-everyone-has-regrets-loose-ends-things-they-could-do-if/) [Catherine McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mckenzie/) > [It is the loose ends with which men hang themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/it-is-the-loose-ends-with-which-men-hang-themselves/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [“Anthony took the pipe out of his mouth and smiled at her. "Sorry, dear! You know I don't mean to get like this, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-macdonald/anthony-took-the-pipe-out-of-his-mouth-and-smiled-at-her-sorry-dear/) Philip MacDonald > [“All stories come to an end. That moment when we sigh and close the book, perhaps sit back in our chair and rest our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/all-stories-come-to-an-end-that-moment-when-we-sigh-and-close-the/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“The ruling groups were always infected to some extent by liberal ideas, and were content to leave loose ends everywhere, to regard only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-ruling-groups-were-always-infected-to-some-extent-by-liberal/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“everyone has regrets. Loose ends. Things they could do if they had more time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mckenzie/everyone-has-regrets-loose-ends-things-they-could-do-if-they-had-more/) [Catherine McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mckenzie/) > [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More by Ree Drummond > [“What else haven’t you told me?” I thought for a minute. “Actually, yes…there is,” I replied, pausing to consider my words carefully, “I eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-else-haven-t-you-told-me-i-thought-for-a-minute-actually-yes/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/butter-cream-and-bacon-that-s-such-a-great-foundation-right-there/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“More and more, I began helping around the homestead. I learned to operate my John Deere mower so I could keep the yard around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/more-and-more-i-began-helping-around-the-homestead-i-learned-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I walked proudly out of the church, the new wife of Marlboro Man. When we exited the same doors through which my dad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-walked-proudly-out-of-the-church-the-new-wife-of-marlboro-man-when/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“When we arrived at the wedding at Marlboro Man’s grandparents’ house, I gasped. People were absolutely everywhere: scurrying and mingling and sipping champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-we-arrived-at-the-wedding-at-marlboro-man-s-grandparents-house-i/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“What is it?” I asked, pasting a magazine photo of a football--found in an old Seventeen magazine spread--on my beloved’s collage. “Well, a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-is-it-i-asked-pasting-a-magazine-photo-of-a-football-found-in-an/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“When I arrived, I immediately saw the mother of an ex-boyfriend, the kind of ex-boyfriend that would make you want to look as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-i-arrived-i-immediately-saw-the-mother-of-an-ex-boyfriend-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“At times the differences concerned me. Could I ever be with a man who’d never, in his entire life, eaten sushi? Could I, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/at-times-the-differences-concerned-me-could-i-ever-be-with-a-man-who/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“You did not do my homework assignment for me,” he said, grabbing the collage again and looking it over. “I had insomnia,” I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/you-did-not-do-my-homework-assignment-for-me-he-said-grabbing-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I couldn’t bear the thought of a ham sandwich. Imagining milk trickling down my esophagus almost sent me over the edge. Even the saltines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-couldn-t-bear-the-thought-of-a-ham-sandwich-imagining-milk/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Marlboro Man picked me up the next evening, exactly one month before our wedding day. Our evening apart had made the heart grow fonder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/marlboro-man-picked-me-up-the-next-evening-exactly-one-month-before/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’ll send the nurse in here in a minute, okay?” Waste of time , I thought. “Okay, but…do you think there’s anything we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-send-the-nurse-in-here-in-a-minute-okay-waste-of-time-i-thought/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“How come I wasn’t riding around in his middle seat? Was I supposed to initiate this? Was this expected of me? Because I probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/how-come-i-wasn-t-riding-around-in-his-middle-seat-was-i-supposed-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’ll see you in the morning. Oh, and hey…if I don’t answer the door right away it probably means I’m doing some weight training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-see-you-in-the-morning-oh-and-hey-if-i-don-t-answer-the-door/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Minutes later, we were back at the sliding glass door that led inside the house--me, leaning against the glass, Marlboro Man anchoring me there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/minutes-later-we-were-back-at-the-sliding-glass-door-that-led-inside/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) [Explore all 361 Ree Drummond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## More Another day quotes > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“We have no idea, now, of who or what the inhabitants of our future might be. 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Happy Memorial Day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/today-isn-t-just-another-day-off-it-s-a-day-to-remember-those-who/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Another day is another blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhaj-porras/another-day-is-another-blessing/) [Mhaj Porras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mhaj-porras/) > [You load 16 tons, and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-travis/you-load-16-tons-and-what-do-you-get-another-day-older-and-deeper-in/) [Merle Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-travis/) > [“Dawn. Another day is given us, R’hllor be praised.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/dawn-another-day-is-given-us-r-hllor-be-praised/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Just another day in my life. This was one of those days when I thought that maybe a new life, a different life, wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/just-another-day-in-my-life-this-was-one-of-those-days-when-i-thought/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Another day, Another blessing and Another chance at life. Take nothing for granted and think of every breath as a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/another-day-another-blessing-and-another-chance-at-life-take-nothing/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Life is too short to spend another day at war with yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-too-short-to-spend-another-day-at-war-with-yourself/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Another day feeling unimportant. I should really consider being a back up singer...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/another-day-feeling-unimportant-i-should-really-consider-being-a-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 1,021 Another day quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In an internal panic, I picked up the phone and hurriedly pushed redial. I had to catch Rhonda the Realtor, had to tell her wait, hold off, don’t let it go, I’m not sure, hang on, give me another day…or two…or three. But when the numbers finished dialing, I heard no ringing; instead, in a perfect moment of irony, coincidence, and serendipity, I heard Marlboro Man’s voice on the other end. “Hello?” he asked. “Oh,” I replied. “Hello?” “Hey, you,” he replied. So much for calling Rhonda the Realtor. Three seconds into the phone call, Marlboro Man’s voice had already taken hold. His voice. It weakened my knees, destroyed my focus, ruined my resolve. When I heard his voice, I could think of nothing but wanting to see him again, to be in his presence, to drink him in, to melt like butter in his impossibly strong arms. When I heard his voice, Chicago became nothing but a distant memory. “What’re you up to?” he continued. I could hear cattle in the background. “Oh, just getting a few things done,” I said. “Just tying up a few loose ends.” “You’re not moving to Chicago today, are you?” he said with a chuckle. He was only halfway joking. I laughed, rolling over in my bed and fiddling with the eyelet ruffle on my comforter. “Nope, not today,” I answered. “What are you doing?” “Coming to pick you up in a little bit,” he said. I loved it when he took charge. It made my heart skip a beat, made me feel flushed and excited and thrilled. After four years with J, I was sick and tired of the surfer mentality. Laid-back, I’d discovered, was no longer something I wanted in a man. And when it came to his affection for me, Marlboro Man was anything but that. “I’ll be there at five.” Yes, sir. Anything you say, sir. I’ll be ready. 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