I planned to leave work on time today, partly because I’m in the red zone for having too many overtime hours and partly because I was anxious to watch the second half of the premiere episode of Breakout Kings that I DVR’d last night (because now that I have DirecTV, I can do that!) but you know what they say about plans…
About 20 minutes from home, precisely halfway between two side roads that would have allowed me alternate routes to my little castle in the sticks, traffic was at a standstill. And, of course, I was around a bend from what I correctly assumed was a wreck so I couldn’t really see what was going on. So, I sat. Not wanting to tax Fordinand (my car), I put down the windows and turned off the car. I called my sister and we chatted for a while. And I sat. And I called dad to see what he was doing (my stealthy way of letting him know that I was fine, just in case one of the three helicopters flitting around was filming the scene for the news). And I sat. I chatted with the friend I hadn’t met yet in the next car. And I sat. And I cranked up my Christian Kane CD and danced my head. And I sat. And an hour later, the lines of cars started the slow rubbernecking crawl past the accident scene and I moseyed on home.
But in all that time of sitting, captive with nowhere to go and nothing to do (counting emergency vehicles got old once I ran out of fingers; you guys know I don’t do math J), it occurred to me that these are the moments when the lessons you learn growing up come back to you. So, here’s a little reminder of some of my favorite life lessons:
- Always have snacks and/or a drink in the car. Having a car that doubles as a vending machine on wheels has saved me more times than I can count… like those days I oversleep and don’t have time for a sit-down (cereal) breakfast, or I have a meeting right after work, or I am parking cars at the State Fair for Make-a-Wish and can smell the fair’s fried things on sticks but can’t get to them. I’m fairly certain that if I ever end up in an actual ditch rather than the proverbial one, I’ll have enough to survive until the search party shows up. I’m also pretty sure that if I’d been in the Donner Party, we could have survived on granola bars and pop-tarts until springtime.
- Always go to the bathroom before you leave home (or your office, or wherever you’re leaving)… because you just never know when a 30 minute drive will turn into an hour and a half standstill. I refuse to comment on whether I followed this sage wisdom today or if I was doing the bathroom wiggle as I pulled into my driveway.
- It’s better to be behind the wreck than in the wreck. I know that sounds a little strange but what I mean is when the frustrations of daily life get to me, when the schedule derails and nothing goes as planned, it’s easy to get impatient but it helps to remind myself that someone, somewhere is having a much worse day. True, it was an inconvenience to be stuck on the highway when I wanted to be home but someone’s loved ones were in those ambulances; some firefighter was missing dinner with his family because he was stuck in turnout gear in the middle of the road; some insurance agent was working overtime because she was trying to figure out medical insurance, car insurance, and how to get someone to work tomorrow. I had none of those issues to tackle today and I'm more than OK with that. Sometimes you just have to be grateful for the days in your life where nothing important happens.
- And, perhaps the most important reminder of the day: life is fleetingly, amazingly, phenomenally SHORT. In the blink of an eye, the length of a breath, or the amount of time it takes to change lanes on the highway, the world can turn upside down and nothing is ever the same. People come in to our lives and usually, they leave again sooner than we want them to. So today, here’s your friendly reminder:
Even If…
Be generous with hugs, even if you’re only hugging yourself.
Laugh out loud, even if no one hears you.
Sing out louder, even if you only sound good in the shower.
Dance around your kitchen, even if you look like a frog in a blender.
Eat ice cream, even if it's time for breakfast.
Chase a dream, even if you never catch it.
Use your favorite dishes, even if it means you have to wash them by hand.
Wear your pearls, even if you’re wearing jeans.
Take pictures, even if you think you’re having a bad hair day.
Play, even if you only have 10 minutes.
Skip, even if you’ll get your good shoes muddy.
Even if today’s the only day you get, make it… Something More.
Oh my gosh, I learned that "Always have snacks and/or a drink in the car" rule the hard way during that crazy Raleigh ice storm in like 2005. Remember when they let us out of work early and I sat on Glenwood Avenue for two hours cursing myself for not eating lunch.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was so happy to get home that afternoon with myself and my car in one piece, I was even more happy to eat a Cheese Ravioli Lean Cuisine (see? I even remember what I ate, 6 years later!). It was a (microwavable) feast.
Now in DC, I barely drive but there are ALWAYS snacks in my car and in my handbag!
I do remember that! If you'd lived in the Quay, you wouldn't have had that traffic problem- just tractors, school buses, and seniors out for pleasure cruises :)
ReplyDeleteI also remember you're the only person I know who would keep snacks in the car to force some exercise to get to them- I still think that's one of the most clever ideas EVER!