"Leave it to me to ask God for help and then bitch about the wings of the angel sent to my aid." - Gene 101
Our car broke down on the way to the office this morning. I was about 10 miles away, no cell phone and no other choice but to start walking. Cars & Trucks whizzing by as I walk onward. I think to myself "Lord send me a miracle" but then question my own self...
Why is it that we only seek the help of God when we have a problem, a tragedy, a concern or an aliment? Because we are selfish people that is why. So then I again question why I default to asking for help, when in reality folks may or may not be inclined to pick up a fellow walking alongside of the highway even if it is 11:00am and even if he is dressed in a dress shirt and tie. But thankfully a young disabled Marine picked me up. His name was Steven and he explained how he was once a Recon Marine and was injured by a IED while in Afghanistan. He lost his knee and use of some of his fingers which resulted in him being discharged from the Marine Corps, something he missed very much from the short interaction we had. He gave me a lift and dropped me at a local bank just about a half mile from my office. He was from a different community and was using Google Maps or Siri or some technological beast for directions to a friend's house to help him with his vehicle, ball joints or something, and I told him he could just drop me there a the bank parking lot before he had to go to his friend's house. I thanked him for his service, his sacrifice, and his kind and generous act of helping me. As I walked the other half mile to my office, I found myself thinking "this is a small town, he could have dropped me at the office another five, six blocks to the office and then used the map app to take him to his friend's house" and that's when it dawned on me how viciously selfish we are. I asked the Lord for help so I would not have to walk the entire 10 miles to the office and he sent me an Angel, a disabled Marine Angel but an Angel just the same and here I was bitching that he did not take me further. I justify it with I am old, out of shape from sitting on ass in the office and no outdoor activity for like a year, winded from breathing issues and 30+ yrs of smoking but the reality is that even the best is not good enough for some of us. The moment was very humbling. Suffice to say, I am thankful for Steven and the assistance I got. I am thankful to live in a world where folks like him exist. I am thankful for roadside assistance to tow it to a garage and I am thankful for the ability to have things like that done. Ten, twenty years ago I may not have but have worked hard to get to this point in life and I refuse to look at things negatively. It will all be okay. I keep telling myself, it will be okay and to quit bitching and complaining about the kind of help sent my way; either by fate, God, chance or happenstance, I should appreciate it and take what I can get.
"Leave it to me to ask God for help and then bitch about the wings of the angel sent to my aid." - Gene 101
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you." – Daoism
Feeling a little better, the few mile hike today with the disabled car issue took a lot out of me physically. My breathing is still okay but not the best & I left my hose and mask for my nebulizer in the car when I began walking. I have my inhaler but it only helps so much. Nice.
Gotta figure out how to get home after work today but that is still 3 1/2 hours away -- Bah, more than enough time to figure out THAT part of my day.
And to make matters worse (I am a whining little bitch today) my 2pm appointment is a no show, I call her phone number to check on her (she is old) but both times her cell service is spotty (benefits of small rural community) so I cannot hear her but did make contact.
Now I got rains Awesome!
I left the microwave popcorn that I brought for lunch today in my broken down car, so I decided for today I would treat myself to some Chicken Fried Rice for a lunch. It just so happens to be storming unbeknownst to me when I ordered, so I am soaking wet from walking 2 blocks. Perfect Day.
I know I live in a rural area but I am NOT paying a taxi cab service $55-$65 just to come get me. One cab company quoted a price of $20 a mile!!! What the hell?!? Is THAT a standard taxi cab fee where you live? I cannot for the life of me justify $20 per mile. The place I am trying to reach is about 25 miles away and I am not paying $500 for a damned taxi cab ride. Hell, I could buy a cheap car for that around here.
Well, finally had a friend message me on the Book of Face that they will come get me and take me home tonight. Will definitely stay home tomorrow and work on getting truck tire fixed and see if the garage can fix our car. Having 2 vehicles and both down all of a sudden is HELL.
I mean realistically these are "First World" problems compared to those in this world without clean drinking water, food, and protection from warlords and other violence. I am lucky and I never forget it.
When I get home, I am taking these damp clothes off, jumping in for a hot shower, having a nice breathing treatment and then swigging some Nyquil and getting into bed and I am going to pretend this day never happened.
This morning is a continuation of the CrapFest2021 that began yesterday morning on a leisurely drive into the office. The garage still has not called (they are very busy) about the car & cannot find a used tire for the old truck anywhere that I can talk the flat one to.
Finances are not sufficient enough for a new tire (and plus never having had "new" tires would be weird, it is already weird having a vehicle from THIS century, I don't think I could handle new tires too, but could swing 1 new tire and forego a spare for now (as both are flat); However, after calling several places & making a decision to go w/the place I got used tires for the Car and would have to figure out how to get there w/the flat as they are a nice stroll of a couple miles, THEN the truck's battery is dead. I mean dead like an Egyptian mummy. A busy February at the office daily and I forgot to start the truck occasionally and the bitter cold & snow storms has left the old battery that is on life support most of the time finally, fully dead. Just FML kind of days, you know what I mean? Way to go, 2021, appreciate it. Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me, Deep Dark Depression, Obsessive Misery, If It weren't for Bad Luck, I'd Have no Luck at All, Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me!
CrapFest 2021 continues; Update: Truck with 2 flat tires and dead battery, Car in shop (no word – thinking transmission issue), no transportation, and NOW starting to have a bit of a fever, and feeling weak, did some rain storm walking for lunch/dinner yesterday at the office and think I am getting it, I done went and caught a cold, cannot seem to maintain much on health front since December but been managing to maintain appearances outwardly but struggle to stay awake at times do not know if linked to breathing issues & cells not getting enough O2 or If am starting to show signs of being diabetic; the thirst, tired especially after eating, the tired behavior, all disturbing stuff but last visit to VA showed test results golden, well not golden but not Star Trek Red Alert stuff as Doc did not mention any concerns OR it can be some infection as having many clients refusing to mask, I do not insist as I remain masked & have shield on desk between us, but still the chance of infection has been constant since last March & wife & I are conflicted on vaccines.
