Posts Tagged ‘lucky’
Two Strikes
Yesterday my day started and ended with lightning and thunder.
I arrived at work just ahead of a storm-front that, when it finally reached us, turned the view out our windows so dark it startled me when I walked by. Then came one of those ‘flash-BANG’ strikes of lightning that was so close our power did something of a hiccup and some things went off, but others stayed on. It turned out that we had lost one phase of AC power to our building, so some outlets were live, and others, not. In our main room of assembly stations, the overhead fluorescent lights were off, but the workbench lamps were still on. It looked like the each person was working at their own little campfire in the dark of night.
The evening storm at home wasn’t too problematic, …at first. I noticed the broadcast of the Twins game suffered a few pauses, as if the weather was messing with the signal from the cable company. Then another of those ‘flash-BANGs’ hit and our power bounced off and on one time. Everything appeared to be functioning just fine. A short while after that, the sirens started. First, a police car, followed by an emergency rescue van, and ultimately three fire engines turning right at our corner to reach the houses up the street. There was a pause in the rain, so I wandered out to the curb at the intersection and enjoyed a pleasant visit with my neighbors while we waited to learn what happened.
The story I heard is that the strike targeted the natural gas meter of one of the houses. The problem though, was people in multiple houses were reporting the smell of gas in their homes. I don’t envy the folks whose responsibility it is to solve that issue.
It started to rain again and I went back in to watch the Twins finish off the White Sox and reclaim first place in their division, hoping those two close strikes of lightning in one day will buy me a long stretch of time until I’m due for another.
Lucky Guy
I’m feeling really grateful lately for a lot of things. Mostly, people who have enriched my life. I’m a lucky guy. Lucky to know so many special people with whom I have been able to connect and who join me in discovering the subtleties and nuances of ourselves and the world we are in. I was born into a family of siblings, and to our parents, that have certainly made me who I am today, and they have all always been a step beyond ordinary. As time passes, I am learning more about what that has meant for me and how it contributes to the person I have become.
I am lucky to have Cyndie and my two amazing children. Those of you who know me understand how lucky I am to have Cyndie in my life. And I’ve said many times that my children have taught me more about myself than I wanted to know at the time, but that I now am eternally grateful to have learned; and who better to learn from? I have also been blessed by knowing and becoming a part of Cyndie’s family.
I am lucky to have a friend in Gary, a connection that was somehow made before either of us were aware of it, so at the time we met, we were both sure we already knew each other. Lucky to have discovered Pam on the trek. The whole group I traveled with have me feeling like I’ve won a lottery. Then, looking at the big picture, I’ve won that lottery of wonderful groups over and over. My soccer friends, cycling friends, Brainstorms’ virtual friends, lifelong EP friends, coworkers who became friends. What luck! I sometimes feel I don’t deserve to know people like Eapon and Chris and Andy. Rich, Steve, and Curt, Julie, Rhonda and David, Suzanne, Ann. Thank you, Laura, for allowing me to be a friend. Howard and Judy, Grace, RJ, and Ian in Portugal and Walter in New Zealand. David, Paul, Steve, David, Kevin, Todd, and Eric. Hal. Jodi and Jody. Kym. My other Gary. Murph, JC. Some of you I don’t see so much any more, but you’ve made a lasting impression that keeps you in my thoughts. You continue to contribute to who I am and to my feeling of being a lucky guy for knowing you.
Some folks say you make your own luck. If I have, I would be happy to take credit, but my thinking is, “How lucky is that?” As in, I am so lucky, I even lucked out and made some of my own, without even realizing it!
You are all good people. The named and the still to be named. Did I mention Warren? Or Ed! There are two Eds. And John. There are quite a few Johns. Katie. Judy, Linda, Elliott, Mary and David. Elysa and Julian. In this moment, I am thinking of you all.
I am a lucky guy.
Relative Something 