=)
I'm happy.
So a new decade is here, or another week has come and gone. I guess it's up to us whether or not you believe in the magic. I do.
I am very hopeful for this year. Above all else, I am determined to set the mood and the tone of my own story. Bad things may happen to me, good thing may too. But more and more I realize that I am writing this story, and I have control over how the events of my life make me feel.
Something Bad Happened
On Saturday Morning I was asked to come into work for six in the morning because there was no one else who could do it. I agreed, of course, because when you are needed, you go. Driving in a snowstorm in the early hours of the day is never fun, but I took my time and made it in safely. The shift was smooth, and all was well.
After I got out, I used the opportunity of being close to my hometown of Glocester Rhode Island to visit an old friend from High School. To get to his house you have to drive down this windy road with large drop-offs. I didn't think too much of this; the worst of the snow had stopped and the roads were treated. Or so I thought.
Unfortunatly, they had not sanded his road, and so I found mself unable to slow my car while coming down an steep hill with a sharp corner at the bottom. Quick thinking time! Should I hit the trees to the left head on? No. Should I hit the telephone pole and mail boxes to the right head on? I'd rather not. Should I hit the sign post dead ahead and go down a slight drop off the road? That seems to be the best way out of this. Here we go. Wheee!
There was no impact really, it was just like driving down a hill. And suddenly I'm standing up in my car. Then there is a feeling: I didn't plan this, and a lot of my plans are about to change. This is different.
So I did what you do in that uncomfortable space. I called the Police, my insurance company, my friend, my parents. They all responded with kindness and support, which, more than anything else, is what you need when something bad happens. When the first tow truck showed up the first words of of the guy's mouth were, "Love these people who go to fast". I wasn't going fast. I've been taking that road since I learned how to drive, and I've never gone over ten miles an hour. It's a one lane twisty hell road, AND it was snowing. He barley tried to ge my car out, and his attitude didn't improve. I thanked him for his time and said goodbye.
I realized something just then. You never know what kind of a day someone has had, and being negative towards a person can really make or break them. I defended myself, but I would not return this man's negitave energy.
I Am Blessed
My friend sat with me for a while, but he had to go eventually. As they were leaving home Neibors across the street said that I could stay out of the snow while I waited on their porch. I paced and tweeted to keep my feet and my heart warm, and eventually decided to wait in the car until they came. So here I am, sitting/standing in my car, smoking spent cigarette butts, trying to warm my toes, and listening to the oldies. This is what I would concider a low point. Then, 'Red Rubber Ball' performed by The Cyrcle (Paul Simion wrote it) came on the radio. When I was young I used spend much time playing in the basement while my Grandfather would listen to the raido. That song always brings me right back to that place. He was the kind of man who could make you smile at you exicution. A truly kind man. I smiled, and cried a little, in a good way.
The second tow truck came, and everyone was so nice. The officer saw that I was shaking and he put his arm on mine. I thanked them both and told them how important their kindness was to me. The lights attracted a man from up the street and he offered to drive me home,which is a half an hour drive.
He turned out to be a very nice man. He said that I sopke like a gentleman, and that he liked me right away. He has had a hard life. His mother dided when he was young and her side of the family didn't like his father, who was also gone, so he was orphened. He had to drop out of school when hewas fourteen to feed himself. He keep saying that he was blessed.
When his daughter was two she looked at him ad said, Dad, I remeber playing with you when you were little and my name was Gracie. Gracis was his mother's name. He said from that point on his whole outlook on life had changed. We both discoverd ourselves to be agnostic, and admitted that humans will never really understand everything about this world. But there is magic. If you want it.
I'll end with this. It is from Neil Gaiman's blog which you can read here.
It's what he said three minutes after midnight on the 1st at the Boston POPS show:
I wish you all the same.
Love,
Ryan
