Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 158
January 12, 2014
"Courage"
(Last Sunday, I posted that I had chosen one single word to help guide me through 2014. That word is Acceptance and I have it posted on my desk here where I write. But I had come up with an entire list of possible words. I thought I would share a few of them here over the next few weeks.)
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 New International Version
Courage. When have I ever had to be courageous? I have never been kidnapped. Thank God. I have never had to disarm a bomb. Thank God. I have never been face to face with a wild bear in the woods. Oh, hold it. I was face to face with a black bear in my own backyard when I was seven or eight years old. Within two seconds, I had turned, run into the house, run through the entire house to my bedroom and leaped into my bed where I didn’t move for hours. That was some courage.
But I have faced getting a divorce, my dad dying from Alzheimer’s, and my sister being diagnosed with cancer (that was all in one year). I dealt with my sister dying from her cancer, my mom moving (twice), my husband losing his job (twice) and putting to sleep several pets. I’ve survived job stress, a teen-age daughter, a college-age son and a foreign exchange student from Portugal. And even the good things take some fortitude – buying a house, remodeling a house, getting remarried.
I managed to get through my minor car accident last month, but I did not handle last week’s migraine with nearly as much grace. Every day we face something, whether small or large. We may not realize it, but it is courage that gets us through those days and it is God who gives us the courage to get through the worst of those times.
Dear Heavenly Father, grant me the courage to face my biggest challenges and my smallest inconveniences. Help me to remember that with You by my side, I can face anything, even a bear in the backyard. Amen
Thankfully, the largest wild animals in my backyard are the deer.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 New International Version
Courage. When have I ever had to be courageous? I have never been kidnapped. Thank God. I have never had to disarm a bomb. Thank God. I have never been face to face with a wild bear in the woods. Oh, hold it. I was face to face with a black bear in my own backyard when I was seven or eight years old. Within two seconds, I had turned, run into the house, run through the entire house to my bedroom and leaped into my bed where I didn’t move for hours. That was some courage.
But I have faced getting a divorce, my dad dying from Alzheimer’s, and my sister being diagnosed with cancer (that was all in one year). I dealt with my sister dying from her cancer, my mom moving (twice), my husband losing his job (twice) and putting to sleep several pets. I’ve survived job stress, a teen-age daughter, a college-age son and a foreign exchange student from Portugal. And even the good things take some fortitude – buying a house, remodeling a house, getting remarried.
I managed to get through my minor car accident last month, but I did not handle last week’s migraine with nearly as much grace. Every day we face something, whether small or large. We may not realize it, but it is courage that gets us through those days and it is God who gives us the courage to get through the worst of those times.
Dear Heavenly Father, grant me the courage to face my biggest challenges and my smallest inconveniences. Help me to remember that with You by my side, I can face anything, even a bear in the backyard. Amen
Thankfully, the largest wild animals in my backyard are the deer.
January 9, 2014
Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda
Last summer I joined a few local writers in forming a writers group. Our first meetings were small, informal and pretty much by invitation only. We wanted to test the waters, see what our goals were, see where we wanted this group to end up before we went public.
Our first public meeting was Wednesday. By early afternoon, a migraine was taking up residency in my head; I was not too happy about that, but more unhappy that I didn’t feel I would be up to conferring with fellow writers. I got home from work, called to cancel and crawled into bed.
The last time we met, we threw out the idea of a writing prompt – write about this topic and bring it to the next meeting. The prompt we came up with was to use the terms “woulda, shoulda, coulda”. I must admit, I didn’t let out all the stops on my creativity when I wrote my piece. Instead of my own words, someone else’s words kept popping into my head as I tried to write about things I could have done or should have done. My own words ended up very small and inadequate, so maybe it’s just as well that I didn’t make the meeting. Their gain, is your loss. Isn’t that how the saying goes?
Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair.I envied her, she seemed so gay, and wished I was as fair.When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle.She had one leg and wore a crutch. And as she passed... a smile.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.I have 2 legs, the world is mine
I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm.I talked with him, he seemed so glad. If I were late, it'd do no harm.And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you, you have been so kind.It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see," he said, "I'm blind."
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.
Later while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.He stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do.I stopped a moment and then I said, "Why don't you join the others, dear?"He looked ahead without a word. And then I knew, he couldn't hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.I have 2 ears, the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I'd go.With eyes to see the sunset's glow.With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine........
(The above poem is not mine; I’ve had it written down on a yellow piece of paper for the last 40 years. Some sources credit this poem to Red Foley, others continue to say the author is unknown. All I can add to it are these brief, insufficient words.)
I wish I woulda,I think I shoulda,I know I coulda,But I didn’t
I whined instead.
Our first public meeting was Wednesday. By early afternoon, a migraine was taking up residency in my head; I was not too happy about that, but more unhappy that I didn’t feel I would be up to conferring with fellow writers. I got home from work, called to cancel and crawled into bed.
The last time we met, we threw out the idea of a writing prompt – write about this topic and bring it to the next meeting. The prompt we came up with was to use the terms “woulda, shoulda, coulda”. I must admit, I didn’t let out all the stops on my creativity when I wrote my piece. Instead of my own words, someone else’s words kept popping into my head as I tried to write about things I could have done or should have done. My own words ended up very small and inadequate, so maybe it’s just as well that I didn’t make the meeting. Their gain, is your loss. Isn’t that how the saying goes?
Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair.I envied her, she seemed so gay, and wished I was as fair.When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle.She had one leg and wore a crutch. And as she passed... a smile.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.I have 2 legs, the world is mine
I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm.I talked with him, he seemed so glad. If I were late, it'd do no harm.And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you, you have been so kind.It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see," he said, "I'm blind."
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.
Later while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.He stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do.I stopped a moment and then I said, "Why don't you join the others, dear?"He looked ahead without a word. And then I knew, he couldn't hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.I have 2 ears, the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I'd go.With eyes to see the sunset's glow.With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine........
(The above poem is not mine; I’ve had it written down on a yellow piece of paper for the last 40 years. Some sources credit this poem to Red Foley, others continue to say the author is unknown. All I can add to it are these brief, insufficient words.)
I wish I woulda,I think I shoulda,I know I coulda,But I didn’t
I whined instead.
January 7, 2014
This Week in Hatchet Creek
Here we are in another new year. Has everyone made their New Year’s Resolutions? Has anyone kept their resolutions for one solid week?
I’ve decided that my resolution for retirement is to move to someplace warmer than Wisconsin in the winter. For the last few days we have had record cold temperatures here in the Northwoods. For the second day in a row school was cancelled because of forecasted wind chills of forty below.
Twenty years ago was the last time we had temperatures this cold. I remember January of 1994 as the first winter I was alone with my kids following my divorce. I was commuting to Rhinelander for work every day. That one crisp morning in January, I woke up, heard the forecast and that school was closed and decided that I wasn’t going to work, whether anyone liked it or not. I only called in twice because of the weather in the twelve years that I drove the thirty miles to Rhinelander, that day and one other time when a thick layer of ice covered every surface out of doors.
I remember lots of Wisconsin winters when I was a kid. School was only cancelled if the thermometer ready “-40”. None of this forecasted wind chill business. And if there was a foot of fresh snow on the ground, but the plows got out early enough, they still held school. Your bus just might not being running that day, so you could get excused if you were one of those kids. Naturally, on those days, my mom offered to drive us the five miles into school. A foot of snow wasn’t going to stop her Chevy Impala. And nobody had four-wheel drive, but somehow we still got around in our old sedans and rear-wheel pickup trucks.
Anyway. There are still lots of outdoor events scheduled this winter. One Polar Plunge already occurred on January 1 and another one is planned for February. I can’t keep track of all the ice fishing tournaments coming up. Those are two activities I will never understand. Leave the fish under the ice where they are happy and us humans need to stay out of the water altogether.
I’ll have to let you know how all these happenings turn out. In the meantime, don’t forget your friends here in Hatchet Creek, where the dogs are mostly lab-mixes, the cats are often feral and whitetail deer have been known to roam the city streets.
I didn't get a chance to take any pictures of our frozen town this week, but I did make it out to my garage. With the cold temperatures there is a lot of talk about bringing in your pets. I do let these three in when it gets this cold, but they are still pretty spoiled. The orange cat is sitting in a heated water bowl - minus the water. The other two are sleeping on expensive electric pet-beds. I don't know why they are looking at me in such disdain. Oh, that's right, they're cats.
I’ve decided that my resolution for retirement is to move to someplace warmer than Wisconsin in the winter. For the last few days we have had record cold temperatures here in the Northwoods. For the second day in a row school was cancelled because of forecasted wind chills of forty below.
Twenty years ago was the last time we had temperatures this cold. I remember January of 1994 as the first winter I was alone with my kids following my divorce. I was commuting to Rhinelander for work every day. That one crisp morning in January, I woke up, heard the forecast and that school was closed and decided that I wasn’t going to work, whether anyone liked it or not. I only called in twice because of the weather in the twelve years that I drove the thirty miles to Rhinelander, that day and one other time when a thick layer of ice covered every surface out of doors.
I remember lots of Wisconsin winters when I was a kid. School was only cancelled if the thermometer ready “-40”. None of this forecasted wind chill business. And if there was a foot of fresh snow on the ground, but the plows got out early enough, they still held school. Your bus just might not being running that day, so you could get excused if you were one of those kids. Naturally, on those days, my mom offered to drive us the five miles into school. A foot of snow wasn’t going to stop her Chevy Impala. And nobody had four-wheel drive, but somehow we still got around in our old sedans and rear-wheel pickup trucks.
Anyway. There are still lots of outdoor events scheduled this winter. One Polar Plunge already occurred on January 1 and another one is planned for February. I can’t keep track of all the ice fishing tournaments coming up. Those are two activities I will never understand. Leave the fish under the ice where they are happy and us humans need to stay out of the water altogether.
I’ll have to let you know how all these happenings turn out. In the meantime, don’t forget your friends here in Hatchet Creek, where the dogs are mostly lab-mixes, the cats are often feral and whitetail deer have been known to roam the city streets.
I didn't get a chance to take any pictures of our frozen town this week, but I did make it out to my garage. With the cold temperatures there is a lot of talk about bringing in your pets. I do let these three in when it gets this cold, but they are still pretty spoiled. The orange cat is sitting in a heated water bowl - minus the water. The other two are sleeping on expensive electric pet-beds. I don't know why they are looking at me in such disdain. Oh, that's right, they're cats.
January 5, 2014
Acceptance.
When I wrote here last, I was trying to think of a word which I could keep in mind for the entire year of 2014. A word to help me cope with daily challenges, while encouraging me to work towards my goals for the year.
The word I have come up with is Acceptance.
I can’t change much, I can only change myself and that is difficult enough. In the meantime, all I can do is accept that life is the way it is. I can find the good in the worst circumstances if I only accept that this is the plate I’ve been handed. I can find peace in letting go and taking what I have been given.
Wish me luck with that!
The word I have come up with is Acceptance.
I can’t change much, I can only change myself and that is difficult enough. In the meantime, all I can do is accept that life is the way it is. I can find the good in the worst circumstances if I only accept that this is the plate I’ve been handed. I can find peace in letting go and taking what I have been given. Wish me luck with that!
December 31, 2013
A Year in Words
Last week, when I was cleaning out one of the three junk drawers in our kitchen, I found my Christmas letter from 2003. Yes, from ten years ago! I know, do I ever clean my cupboards or drawers! To make this find even better, the darn letter was three pages long! Single-spaced, standard margins, font size 12. Whoa! Has a consecutive series of 365 days in my life ever been that worthy of mention? No, and it wasn’t so ten years ago either. But it was fun to read it over and see what was going on then. Of course, I tucked the letter back into the folder and into the drawer.
This year’s Christmas letter barely made a single page. I don’t know that my life has become less exciting, but maybe I just find less excitement in it.
I won’t reiterate the entire letter here, just the highlights.
My son, my daughter, my husband and myself all continue to be gainfully employed. Nick has a puppy, Val has a live-in boyfriend, Himey has ME.
Val and I returned to Kenya this spring. Me for two weeks and Val for three months. When she came home she started a nonprofit organization, Tumaini Volunteers, Inc. I am supposed to be spending my spare time working on the IRS forms to get tax exempt status but I just haven’t done it.
My second book, “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”, was published in the fall. I admit that I have been disappointed in sales, but the bigger disappointment is how much of a slacker I have been in marketing it. I don’t know how other authors do it; I just am not a salesperson more than an hour or two a week.
The hubby and I went to Lifest in July and to Milwaukee on vacation in September. I ran in a 5K in July. That’s about all that I can think of that happened this year that is worth mentioning. I also have no resolutions for the New Year, in case you were wondering.
Somewhere or other, I saw a thing about having a word for the year. An uplifting or inspiring word, like “Hope” or “Achieve” or “Diet”. (I don’t know if “diet” was one of the examples, but it could be someone’s word.)
I thought about choosing such a word, something to put on my bulletin board, to keep in my head to keep me motivated. I have yet to select a word. Maybe you can suggest one, or at least pick a word for yourself. Let me know.
Have a safe and happy New Year.
This year’s Christmas letter barely made a single page. I don’t know that my life has become less exciting, but maybe I just find less excitement in it.
I won’t reiterate the entire letter here, just the highlights.
My son, my daughter, my husband and myself all continue to be gainfully employed. Nick has a puppy, Val has a live-in boyfriend, Himey has ME.
Val and I returned to Kenya this spring. Me for two weeks and Val for three months. When she came home she started a nonprofit organization, Tumaini Volunteers, Inc. I am supposed to be spending my spare time working on the IRS forms to get tax exempt status but I just haven’t done it.
My second book, “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”, was published in the fall. I admit that I have been disappointed in sales, but the bigger disappointment is how much of a slacker I have been in marketing it. I don’t know how other authors do it; I just am not a salesperson more than an hour or two a week.
The hubby and I went to Lifest in July and to Milwaukee on vacation in September. I ran in a 5K in July. That’s about all that I can think of that happened this year that is worth mentioning. I also have no resolutions for the New Year, in case you were wondering.
Somewhere or other, I saw a thing about having a word for the year. An uplifting or inspiring word, like “Hope” or “Achieve” or “Diet”. (I don’t know if “diet” was one of the examples, but it could be someone’s word.)
I thought about choosing such a word, something to put on my bulletin board, to keep in my head to keep me motivated. I have yet to select a word. Maybe you can suggest one, or at least pick a word for yourself. Let me know.
Have a safe and happy New Year.
December 29, 2013
Surrounded with Blessings
For the last six weeks, I have shared with you passages from my book “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”. For the past one week, I have been wondering what to write about today. Should I post a passage about the wise men visiting the Christ child? Should I post about the real meaning of Christmas? Should I reflect on the past year?
Still, this morning, nothing concrete had come to me. And so, instead of throwing together a meaningless article because I have to post something on my blog (and considering I didn’t write one for Thursday), I wasn’t going to write a blog post again today. Yet here I am.
Yesterday I took a short walk through my woods (my woods isn’t very big, so I had little choice in making it a short walk). I am so blessed to live where I do, have the family and friends that I have, be able to share my life with Dino the Wonder Dog. What it all boils down to, as great as of all this is, it would still just be “stuff” had God’s Son not come to Earth and lived among us. He is there in the people I love, in the pets I am allowed to raise, in the trees and in the snow. He is everywhere, surrounding me with His love.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3 NIV
(I am such a slacker today. This is the Bible passage that came up on Bible Gateway, the website where I look up verses. I thought it would work.)
Still, this morning, nothing concrete had come to me. And so, instead of throwing together a meaningless article because I have to post something on my blog (and considering I didn’t write one for Thursday), I wasn’t going to write a blog post again today. Yet here I am.
Yesterday I took a short walk through my woods (my woods isn’t very big, so I had little choice in making it a short walk). I am so blessed to live where I do, have the family and friends that I have, be able to share my life with Dino the Wonder Dog. What it all boils down to, as great as of all this is, it would still just be “stuff” had God’s Son not come to Earth and lived among us. He is there in the people I love, in the pets I am allowed to raise, in the trees and in the snow. He is everywhere, surrounding me with His love.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3 NIV
(I am such a slacker today. This is the Bible passage that came up on Bible Gateway, the website where I look up verses. I thought it would work.)
December 24, 2013
Remember What We Are Celebrating
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. Luke 2:19 The Message Bible
Every mother has high hopes for her baby from the minute he or she is born. What will he grow up to be? Who will she look like? Will he be smart? Will she be popular? A million questions run through every mother’s head when she sees her newborn baby. Mary had the same questions, and one more that we wouldn’t ask. What will happen to the Son of God?
If you have read the entire Bible or have never opened one, if you’re in church every weekend or just for funerals and weddings, you probably know the story well. You know how this baby’s life on this earth ends. Most people have heard that the baby Jesus grew up and shared the truth about His Father, only to die an unimaginably painful death on a cross.
Imagine that you are Mary or Joseph, and you could see your baby’s future and know that horrible end? How could you have any joy in your life? Believe it or not, God knew the horrible end His Son would face, and He sent His Son to us anyway, so we would not have to face that pain ourselves. That is how much God loves us. He sent Jesus as a sacrifice, a perfect Lamb, to die in our place.
(From "The Christmas Story in 40 Days".)
Every mother has high hopes for her baby from the minute he or she is born. What will he grow up to be? Who will she look like? Will he be smart? Will she be popular? A million questions run through every mother’s head when she sees her newborn baby. Mary had the same questions, and one more that we wouldn’t ask. What will happen to the Son of God?
If you have read the entire Bible or have never opened one, if you’re in church every weekend or just for funerals and weddings, you probably know the story well. You know how this baby’s life on this earth ends. Most people have heard that the baby Jesus grew up and shared the truth about His Father, only to die an unimaginably painful death on a cross.
Imagine that you are Mary or Joseph, and you could see your baby’s future and know that horrible end? How could you have any joy in your life? Believe it or not, God knew the horrible end His Son would face, and He sent His Son to us anyway, so we would not have to face that pain ourselves. That is how much God loves us. He sent Jesus as a sacrifice, a perfect Lamb, to die in our place.
(From "The Christmas Story in 40 Days".)
December 22, 2013
Countdown to Christmas - Week 6
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12 The Message Bible
The shepherds had been told about a baby born in Bethlehem and the angel was there to convince these men to go visit the infant. The angel told them several of the names that the baby would one day be called. In Isaiah 9:6, there is an even longer list of names: Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Throughout Scripture, Jesus has even more titles – the Anointed One, Redeemer, Emmanuel.
Why so many names for one person? Well, why not? There are not enough superlatives to describe Jesus. There is not just one name that expresses who He is. He is the One.
Do you have a nickname? Does your spouse call you "sweetheart,” or "honey,” or some other affectionate name? Did your mom call you by your full name when you were in trouble? The name we were given at birth is important, but sometimes the names that we go by matter just as much.
(Every Sunday for the last six weeks, I shared an excerpt from “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”. A friend of mine gave me a rubber duckie Nativity set to add to my rubber duckie collection. I went a little crazy taking pictures of these ducks, but hopefully, if you find my words boring, at least the pictures have kept you coming back for more. Hopefully you have already ordered your copy of “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”. If not, we should keep Christmas in our hearts year-round, so it's really never to late to order. )
The shepherds had been told about a baby born in Bethlehem and the angel was there to convince these men to go visit the infant. The angel told them several of the names that the baby would one day be called. In Isaiah 9:6, there is an even longer list of names: Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Throughout Scripture, Jesus has even more titles – the Anointed One, Redeemer, Emmanuel.
Why so many names for one person? Well, why not? There are not enough superlatives to describe Jesus. There is not just one name that expresses who He is. He is the One.
Do you have a nickname? Does your spouse call you "sweetheart,” or "honey,” or some other affectionate name? Did your mom call you by your full name when you were in trouble? The name we were given at birth is important, but sometimes the names that we go by matter just as much.
(Every Sunday for the last six weeks, I shared an excerpt from “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”. A friend of mine gave me a rubber duckie Nativity set to add to my rubber duckie collection. I went a little crazy taking pictures of these ducks, but hopefully, if you find my words boring, at least the pictures have kept you coming back for more. Hopefully you have already ordered your copy of “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”. If not, we should keep Christmas in our hearts year-round, so it's really never to late to order. )
December 19, 2013
Snow Poem
The snow had been falling lightly that afternoonNow though, as darkness settled The temperature dropped The snow stoppedNot the usual route on my way homeThe road no longer white with snowBut dirt brown and winter greyOut of the corner of my eyeAn older white ChevroletA split second to reactDo I swerve?Do I brake?Do I curse myself for not taking five minutes moreIn the store?Or less?ImpactI am okPhysically The car is notSome calls Some paperworkThe temperature continues to dropUnderfoot on the side of the roadThe fresh snowMarked now only by my tracks.
This month's poetry challenge was to write a poem which included snow in some way. You all know from past experience that I am not a poet, but still I try. As you may have guessed, I did not win this month's poetry challenge. My next poem about snow will have to include this beauty, which, if you follow me on Facebook, you know I never would have seen had my husband not taken me to work all week because my car is in the shop.
This month's poetry challenge was to write a poem which included snow in some way. You all know from past experience that I am not a poet, but still I try. As you may have guessed, I did not win this month's poetry challenge. My next poem about snow will have to include this beauty, which, if you follow me on Facebook, you know I never would have seen had my husband not taken me to work all week because my car is in the shop.
December 17, 2013
A Minor Inconvenience
Last Thursday night at 6:30 was the retirement party for a co-worker. She had been working at our clinic almost as long as I have and I miss her already. I wanted to go her party, but it had been a crazy day at work, and even on a good day, I just want to go home and be anti-social after dealing with people for eight or nine hours.
I had one quick errand to run, so figured that if I could get out of work by ten to six, I could make that stop and arrive at the party fashionably early for a change. All went as planned. By 6:05 I was heading back through town on my way to the restaurant. As I drove through a busy intersection, movement caught my right eye. I turned to see another car barreling towards me. For a split second a hundred thoughts ran through my head. Should I swerve? Should I brake? What can I do to avoid this? And then there was impact.
Nothing I could have done. It just happened. In the wrong place at the wrong time. Oh, if I hadn’t ran up to the store, if I had stayed at work longer, if, if, if. It doesn’t matter how many scenarios a person runs through their head. Look up the definition of “accident”. It is something that just happens that you have no control over.
So I have been inconvenienced for the week. And I didn’t make it to the party.
How crazy is it that I can think of more good things to say than bad. No one got hurt. I have full coverage on my car, but it wasn’t my fault so the other guy’s insurance should pick up the bill, including the deductible. The body shop guy in town is a family friend. Honestly, I know he’s not going to give us a deal or finish my car before all the other vehicles in his garage, but I trust him and to me that is worth more than gold.
I was going to go Christmas shopping the next day, but I decided I would just have to stay home and clean house instead. Until a friend, who also had the day off, heard of my plight. She wanted to go shopping too, but didn’t want to go by herself. Not only did she do the driving, I melted into the heated seats of her truck. The ride there and back relaxed me so much that I didn’t care about much of anything after a while.
I bought everything on my list and had coupons and got good deals. At every checkout, I wanted to ask the clerk if they rang everything up because I couldn’t believe how low the bill was.
I wasn’t able to get a loaner car from the garage and my insurance policy doesn’t cover a rental car. Yes, since the other guy was at fault (in my opinion, though I have yet to receive a copy of the police report), his insurance should pay for a rental car, but how long is that going to take to go through, while in the meantime, I have to pay for the rental up front?
I feel like George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life”. You don’t realize who your friends are until you need a ride back and forth to work for a week. One of our neighbors took me to church Saturday night, another one brought me home from work tonight. A co-worker brought me home last night. I’ve had lots of other offers. I feel so blessed and so loved. Who knew?
Think my cute little car will look this good again?
