Pedal to the Metal

Well, I think I'm obviously STILL being tested on this patience thing..... I am actually gritting my teeth whilst plunking out these words on the keyboard. For the second time in two months, my car has completely broken down on me. Ironically, it was booked for servicing tomorrow - as it already required two new CV boots and a front wheel bearing - whatever those may be. My diagnosis was "loud" and "crunching noises", if that helps. At any rate, today as we're off to the sport of the day, my clutch decides to fail. Pedal to the metal and stuck there. For good. Permanently depressed. Maybe it's just a broken cable suggested one of the many good Samaritans who stopped to offer assistance as we were stranded and blocking traffic on a merge lane to the Haney by-pass during, you guessed it, rush hour. At any rate, I called BCAA and was given an estimated one hour wait. Being the patient person I now am, I was fine with this - I was just concerned about the likelihood of a smashed vehicle at that intersection, or worse, my child deciding to dart out into the action.

Lo and behold, my very first Good Samaritan was none other than B.P. (a.k.a. J's soccer coach) and the dad he barfed on last Friday night in the swimming pool! Now I'm pretty sure B is quite tired of rescuing J and I - but he and another very good Samaritan were able to push my car back out of the traffic so that all the cars could get by. In the meantime, my parents were called and they came to pick up all the baseball gear, sparring gear, fold-up chairs, dog food, booster seats, and J out of my vehicle, trunk and sidewalk - even though J whined about having to leave with them (he desperately wanted to ride in the tow truck). But in that hour, over half of the people who drove down the side street I was on, asked me if they could help, or if I needed help. It was very heartwarming and I can't say how much I appreciated the unexpected kindness. Only one woman yelled at me that I was in her way (sorry!), but BP just directed her around us, no problemo! I think she initially thought I'd just stopped my car to chat with these young, muscled, bucks. Anyway, even the tow truck driver was amazed when I relayed how many people actually stopped to offer assistance - he had pulled up as one young Samaritan was just leaving. This kid had apologized profusely that he couldn't help me - he said he just forgot his tools at home - and had even offered to go home to get them! I told him how much I appreciated his offer but that the tow truck was already en route anyway. I actually think he might have actually gone home to get his tools had he not seen the tow truck himself!

Anyway, we missed our sport of the day and thanks to everybody who helped us, we're all safe and sound -- and the car is obviously where it belongs. But, I am gritting my teeth because I am literally dreading what these repairs are going to set us back again this time....

Patience is a Virtue (I'm workin on)

I have never been the most patient person in the world. Especially when I perceive that something "should be" going/moving a heck of a lot quicker. But I'm really trying to accept the fact that some things in life will not always be "in my timing". And, I believe this was a weekend designed specifically to test me on this....

1. When driving to Coquitlam to pick up my sick son I was behind a convoy of several slow moving farm vehicles on the back roads (I prefer not to pass unless they move over - and, in this case I was a dozen or so vehicles behind them anyway). Then I hit a minor bottle-neck at the Pitt River bridge (a very long two-light wait) - and of course almost every red light from thereon in.


2. I also got a major flat tire (totally my fault). I pulled up just a tad too close to the gas-bar island at the filling station and it turns out that I'd ripped the little nozzle doohicky right off at the base. I was thinking on the bright side that I was less that 30 feet away from the "free air", only to discover after driving that distance on my rim (don't tell my husband), that although I could pump that baby right back up with all that free compressed air, it was just pfffsssssssssssssssssssssssssssttt again and completely flat in just mere seconds!


3. I registered my son for minor hockey - a nearly 'two hour' process of standing in an extremely long line-up after consuming 3 cups of coffee (and having to pee really badly but holding both it - and my spot - in the ridiculous line-up).

So, lots of little glitches and unexpected waits. But, believe it or not, this time I did not get mad or frustrated at all - I just tried to make the best of each situation and counted my blessings that I was not really going to be horribly late for anything (and that I did not get the flat tire on a road trip out of town)! The farmer did turn off the road and into his driveway fairly quickly anyway (and had I arrived earlier at the pool for my son, he would have still been in the changeroom getting sick all over P), my dad came up and helped me with the flat tire short notice (and Kal-Tire did not charge me a cent to repair it!), and I have the satisfaction knowing that my son is finally registered for the sport he has been dying to play for the past year (and my bladder did not, in fact, actually burst).

Now I am really trying to always look at the positive in each situation. My Uncle C - who was a great motivational speaker who spoke all over North America for A.A. - had told me as a child that we should always look on the bright side of situations and that being angry only hurts ourselves. For some reason, up until just a short while ago, I had chose to ignore his advice for the most part. But today I even offered to trade my spot in the line-up to a woman who was several people behind me who was going to be late for her son's ball hockey game - and I know how much I would have appreciated it if someone did that for me if I was running late! I kept reminding myself, it's all just a matter of perspective and how it could have been a heck of a lot worse. What if I didn't have close family and friends to help me out? My mother was happy to watch J while I registered him for hockey and my dad was available to help me fix the flat tire right away! And our friends B and P - who took such good care of my puking kid for me - who called me to see how he was doing when we got home (and again the next day). I just know I can no longer choose to ignore these very obvious blessings or let myself be horribly angry and frustrated when these everyday obstacles in life continue to crop up!

P.S. Today is the 10 year anniversary of my friend Chariss Acosta's passing. In some ways I cannot believe it has been that long - and I can still hear her voice, her laughter. We miss you Chariss!

Not Meant to Be

No sooner had I logged off of the computer, laid out my flannels, brushed and flossed my teeth, and hopped into my hot bubble bath last night, I got "The Call". I neglected to mention yesterday that I was actually enjoying a "night ALONE" last night - a party of "1", some "re-charge the old battery" time! Just "ME, MYSELF, and I"! A rare treat! And, I was definitely dead tired; tired of people, problems, and noise, and was just craving a night all to myself. It was perfect, R was working out of town and J had been invited out for the night with his friend B's family. They were all going swimming and J was very excited about this (but maybe not quite as excited as I was !).

Anyway, long before I could head to my bedroom sanctuary with a good book, P (J's friend B's mom) called me to tell me that J had just been sick. Sick in the pool, sick on the pool deck, (and by the time I got there, sick in the change room, sick on his friend's mom and dad, and then sick in the lobby). They had offered to bring him home but I said I'd come right down and get him. The poor kid. Unfortunately, I had decided earlier that we should really attempt to eat some of the (yuck) canned food I'd bought by the caseload in preparation for the "flood" that was no longer a concern. Obviously this was not such a good idea for a child who is later going to be queasy and frolicking around in a wave pool. At any rate, he was happy to be back at home and tucked in his mom's bed! And I was happy to have my sweet little guy there too - even if my "night alone" was very short-lived!

P.S. J was feeling much better this morning, but suggested we donate all recently purchased canned goods (beefaroni, chile con carne, and alphagetti's) to the local food bank.....

Road Rage

Most days I love my commute to work. I have my coffee and my radio on -- and I'm all ready to map out the most strategic route in - depending on the traffic report. If I can, I obviously like to avoid any noted accidents and areas of congestion all together. On average, it usually takes me just under an hour to get to work (and about the same going home). That's two hours a day where I can listen to tunes or talk shows. Unwind. Get some time alone. Where I can plot my day at work going in, and menu-plan, etc. on the trip home.

But what was with today? At almost any given moment I had some angry, aggressive, hot-under-the collar speedster practically driving in my trunk. I am definately not a slow-poke - in fact, I myself had been a bit of a lead-foot on the open road in my youth. I loved driving full-out on those open interstate highways (I actually get this from my mother!). I've even been known to still pass the odd person (or tractor) myself when it's safe to do. But I always attempt to do it safely and never on someone's tail. I too get frustrated if someone is driving below the speed limit.

So today, while I was travelling exactly the same speed as the 500 or so cars before (and beside) me, I had several Mr./Ms. Impatient's just riding my bumper (both to and from work). What do they expect me (and whoever else they were behind) to do? If we speed up, we're going to be tailgaiting or rear-ending the next guy too. So what good would that do? Rushing might get this maniac wherever he's going a whole 2 minutes ahead of me - but the impending "accident" could get him/her killed.

I guess my real frustration isn't in someone just wanting to pass me -- I have no problem with that if it's clear to move ahead once they've done so. I always stay to the right and try to move over to let faster vehicles pass me when I'm driving up country - I acknowledge the fact that my little diesel isn't the peppiest roadster out there - and I prefer to drive extra cautiously on roads I don't know so well. I once hit a large doe that just jumped out in front of us from nowhere - with my son and my neice in the car (J thought I'd hit a kangaroo). It happened so fast - I remember the split-second choice I had to make: swerve and either drive into the oncoming Semi (left) or the steep embankment (right) or deer (straight ahead). I can't imagine how we'd have fared if I'd been driving too fast! Anyway, I just don't see the point in tailgaiting someone for 20 minutes and/or weaving in and out of densely congested lanes during rush hour.

Also, when I'm stopped on an incline, why does the vehicle behind me always seem to ride my bumper? I drive a car with a standard transmission (ie: clutch), and it can roll back a tad when starting forward. And it can roll back a heck of a lot more if you're new to driving a standard. Not so good for your new found bumper-buddy. Too close for comfort - a little space would be great!

Some days the aggression and hostility on the road really gets to me. Rarely is anyone polite on the road anymore. For example, how much behind will someone really be if they just let that one car in - rather than speed up and pretend they don't see it? Aren't they happy when the favor is returned? Or do they just plough on through. I know I've made some bone-headed mistakes while I'm driving too - but not deliberately. I try to drive safely, defensively, and courteously. I'm really thinking that Driver's Ed needs a whole course on manners - with some graphic examples of the consequences. Why do these drivers (often in big meaty trucks, huge gas guzzling SUV's, or revved up engines with big shiny mag wheels) think that they're invulnerable? Or more "important" than anyone else on our roads? Hasn't it ever dawned on them to just leave 10 minutes earlier if they have an appointment they can't be late for? Maybe I should just start waving and smiling at them like I know them. Is that a good idea? (Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!)