Postcards from the Funny Farm

I ran out of gas last night on my way home from the grocery store. I was there to pick up dinner and some sundry items, no big deal. As I was listening to Blackhawk on the radio, my mini-van sputtered and stalled. I thought my wife had said the E light just went on. I found out later it had been on E for quite some time (no duh).

I was right in the middle of an intersection and it was almost 8pm. Kind of freaky. I remember those high speed chases where the helicopter films the speeder getting owned by a car who didn’t see him. Yikes. I got out of the car immediately and started to push. Now I’m no weakling, but my 165 pound frame wasn’t getting the car to budge at all. Then they came, like planet of the apes monkeys. Some laughing, some tipping their hats … All of them rushing because they obviously had seen those high speed chases as well. I felt like they all had my back and I didn’t know any of them

Later on after my wife had come to pick me up, we got a gas can and some gas. When I put it in the car, the gas fumes were strong. I thought about the futility of life sometimes: cancer, drunk drivers, child deaths … It’s easy to give up hope sometimes. You have to find the strength in the goodness around you. Then I recalled the gang of helpful people who pushed my car like a knife through butter. Getting help can make life so much easier. I realized there is always a bright side to any given situation. I choose whether to focus on the fumes or the bright side every single day.

The good news is, we all ate our chicken bucket together with laughs. If something should happen in your life that makes you recoil like you would at gas fumes, make sure you remember theres two sides to every story and the side you choose is slowly writing the story of your life. I’ll never be perfect, I’ll always make some mistakes here and there. The significance of that fact? So I can be patient with others who make mistakes as well. Below is the Blackhawk song I was listening to when this all happened. Some great lyrics. Enjoy your Monday.

Aint no Yesterday
Blackhawk

I’ve been livin’ my life like a man in chains
Ever since she took her love away
But this is now and that was then
And baby all bad things gotta come to an end
Chorus
So tonight I’m throwing caution into the wind
Getting down to the business of living again

Back in the saddle and I’m holding the reins
Gonna find someone and love her
Like there ain’t no yesterday
Now it’s dark as a dungeon down where I’ve been
And there ain’t no way I’m going back again
I’ve got my best foot forward onto greener grass
‘Cause there ain’t no future living in the past
Chorus
Out of the ashes alive and free
No longer a slave to a memory
Got the rest of my life right out in front of me
Chorus