Monday, October 8, 2012
What I anticipated would be a run of the mill Monday turned out to be much more entertaining and irritating that I could have imagined.
1. The car would not come out of Park. I kicked the car a few times as I got out- already slightly late for work. My big toe hurts- not only from the kick, but because I forgot about the ingrown toenail on the right big toe. (I know, a bit of an over share.)
2. I high tailed it to the nearest Enterprise Rental Car location. I run fast even with a toe problem.
3. Thirty minutes later I fly down the freeway in a zippy Ford rental car. I didn't get the extra insurance so am hoping on a whim and a prayer that there are no stray rocks flying toward the windshield or any hung over drivers crossing my path this morning. Though I question my own driving ability. This car has every bell, whistle and gadget known to mankind. Plus also, there are three digital screens in the cockpit. PLENTY TO LOOK at and touch. I have always been a button pusher. So, this car is perfect for me. Further, I have the moon roof open all the way so I can have cold air blasting me! Good fun.
4. I fly into the school house a mere 8 minutes before the students arrive. The copy machine has a line which doesn't fit well with my 8 minute schedule. At least for the next three hours I can take a break from my irritating morning and enjoy the kids. As usual, they are entertaining and I am reminded why I took this job in the first place. There is nothing like a crew of five year olds to cure what ails you.
5. My doctor's office called late Friday to say that my doctor wants to see me on Monday in person for a "visit". So, at high noon I fly out the school door and zoom out of the school parking lot toward the freeway. This rental car does really well on two wheels. Sorry boys and girls, you will have a guest teacher this afternoon. Maybe they will like the guest teacher better. That is always a fear I have. No time to dwell on that. I have to get to the doctor's office for whatever news he has for me. I start imagining the worst on the thirty minute drive to his office.
6. My doctor visit is interesting to say the least. I am not dying. So, I should be appreciative of his concern for me and wanting to see me in person. Yet, I am not. Why? After we have blood drawn, I pee in a cup and some other unpleasant things are done to me I am all done. Just then, as a parting gift, my doctor invites me to schedule a colonoscopy since I am 40 now. WHAT? Hold the phone! Only the over 50 crowd are supposed to be "invited" to have this terrifying opportunity. According to my doctor, that is not the case. I settle for the "flu shot up sell: instead an decline the colonoscopy at this time. He seems satisfied that he talked me into the fly shot. I, on the other hand do not. Now, I should be thinking how fortunate I am to have insurance to pay for the shot, blood work, doctor visit, etc. Yet, once again I am a selfish pig and don't focus on all of the privileged I have in my life. I am a slob, by all accounts. Even though I have recently lost some weight, it is a different kind of a slob. Anyone who is ungrateful is a slob in my mind. I fit the stereotype. During the exam before the shot my doctor asks me what is new? Of course I seize this opportunity to tell him about my car not coming out of park, how this has happened a dozen or so times in the last two years, how much it has cost to fix each time, etc. As I ramble on I can tell by his face that he really didn't want to know and that I should have said, "Oh, nothing much new on this end." - Surely you have done the same thing?
7. I stomp back to the rental car with all of my post flu shot paperwork, blood work order,
"Everything you need to know about a Colonoscopy" pamphlet and drive home, on all four wheels this time.
8. I go over to my own car when I get home and kick the car a few more times and try the gear shift once again for good measure. It is a miracle. The car is once again operational. I can shift the gear shift into any gear I desire. Though, I am not fooled this time. This has happened before. In fact, just Tuesday of last week I lived nearly the same scenario...running to Enterprise Rental Car to get a car, late for school, zooming down the freeway on two wheels because the Hot Tamale won't come out of park. It is becoming a bit of a pattern over here.
8. I text a colleague to see if she would be willing to pick me up from the car repair joint in the morning on the way to the school house. She is. Whew! I hate being vulnerable and asking anyone for any kind of help. EVER! My recent therapist, who I had to fire because she knew me too well and called me out on all of my crap too easily, would say this is a grand opportunity to lean into the discomfort of needing others in my life to help. Her advice, while solid, got her fired. (It was like the time I fired my dentist for a host of reasons. None of which I told him, I just cancelled and found a new one. Very mature, I know.)
9. I fear the car won't come out of gear in the morning. So, I drive it to the repair shop in West Seattle tonight. I have the grand idea of making a night of it. I will take mass transit home. It only costs $2.25. Why not? So, I dump the car and catch the Route 21 to downtown Seattle. This is where the night gets interesting. I should mention it is dusk now. About three stops into the route a family gets on. A guy, his wife and young daughter of maybe 16 months. Within a matter of 5 minutes I am privy to much of what has gone on in their life since 2005. Apparently the guy was in a car accident in June, no July, of 2005. His parts "down there" were crushed in the accident. Yep, you heard me correctly. He wasn't supposed to be able to have kids. the doctor gave him a 2% chance of impregnating a woman after that. He pointed to his daughter and said, "Meet 2 %." I smiled. What's more? His lady is expecting yet another child in 4 months. Fantastic. They are newcomers to Seattle as they had to leave Texas. That's nice. I didn't want to know why, but I heard anyway. The girl they were staying with had a house that belonged to her grandmother. The grandmother said this guy, his wife and their young daughter were freeloaders and kicked them out. So, they headed for the hills. (a.k.a - Seattle.) - Now, I should appreciate my privileged again. I have a home. I am not living with friends. Yet, I don't appreciate it at this very moment. I think it is because of the very strong odor coming from the man sitting right in front of me. It is an enticing mix of alcohol and body odor. Great fun........ I am a loser.
10. I make the transfer to the 358 Route downtown in Seattle by Benaroya Hall. I am new to taking the bus. Apparently I can use my transfer ticket from the Route 21. This I am grateful for. I save $2.25. I plop down and am en capsuled by yet another crew of strong body odor emitting people.
One guy introduced himself to the guy across from him. Good news! Apparently he is selling flat screen TV's out of a hotel room just down the road if any of us are interested in stopping by for a deal. Of course my level of concern escalates to an all time high, but I remain silent and listen as one fellow bus rider takes an interest in a new boob tube. I learn, by listening in, that they really aren't running a "legal" business per say, but if the purchaser doesn't mind, it won't be a problem. He doesn't mind. In fact, he gives his cell number to the salesman. A deal is in the works. At last I am a block from my stop. I stomp to the front of the bus and high tail it home.
I am glad to be home. Yet the day is picking at me. I reflect on how ungrateful I am for what I have. In the scheme of life- the inconvenience of the car not working is small. I have health, a home, a job, friends, a car that works....sometimes, a groovy class at school, insurance, etc. Yet, being thrown out of my comfort zone brings out the worst in me. I can only wonder what tomorrow will bring. With any luck it will bring a better attitude and more gratitude!
