Magnetized Mayhem: The Sticker That Won’t Die

Every family has that one item that becomes a running joke, a sort of chaotic heirloom passed around like a prank crown. For us, it’s a magnetic sticker that reads:

“Please Be Patient Student Driver.”

Two years ago, Scott’s sister Laura gave it to him for Christmas. A simple gag. A stocking stuffer. A harmless magnetic warning meant for the back of a teenager’s car. Only she didn’t hand it to him—she slapped it on his Jeep during their visit here.

And he drove around with it. For days. Completely unaware.

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a grown man with a gray beard, a Jeep, and the confidence of a Home Depot regular unknowingly cruising around with a “Please Be Patient Student Driver” sign on his bumper like he just got his permit.

Naturally, that little sticker became part of our family’s rotating comedy routine.

It’s been on my car more times than I care to admit—thanks to Spencer and Scott’s tag-team sneak attacks. Nothing like pulling into a work meeting and realizing your credibility has been slapped with magnetic shame.

But the crown jewel, the absolute masterpiece of student driver sticker sabotage, came courtesy of Spencer.

He snuck out one morning and stuck it on Scott’s trailer. Yes, the trailer—the one Scott uses to deliver handcrafted furniture to paying customers.

Scott, blissfully unaware, loads up a massive custom bookcase for a client. Drives it all the way across town. Pulls into the driveway. And while attempting a very professional, very careful reverse maneuver… he sees it.

The sticker.

“You little butthead!” he shouted.

He was laughing the whole time.

We all were.

And Laura? She was delighted. When she heard what happened, she just cackled and said, "That’s the best return on a $4 Christmas gag gift I’ve ever seen." She now considers the sticker her proudest contribution to our family legacy.

Because sometimes, amid the bills, the stress, the heartbreak and the chaos, you get moments like this.. Moments when the people you love pull off the perfect prank. When the laugh starts in your belly and won’t quit. When you’re reminded that this messy little life is pretty great—even with a student driver sticker on your trailer.