2ndchance

Foundation part II

I broached the subject with my girlfriend while we were studying for a test.  She was always most understanding of my passion for working with kids.

'So do you think you want to go with me and see Mark at his half-way house?  We can take him to the beach and out to lunch.'

Truth is, I wanted to spend time with both of them and for my girlfriend to meet one of 'my kids'.

'Yeah, that would be great. When are we going?'

Riding Around

Even with the high price of gasoline, we Americans still have to drive places.  It is more than just convenience. . .we are addicted to our cars.  For me, being on a fixed income limits my ability to drive during these days of petrol highs.  But even I have to go to doctor's appointments and to my volunteer location.

I pull up behind a wild looking blue car at a red light.  I read the back and it says 'L O T U S'.  My first thought is 'how cool is that?'  My second thought is 'make sure to allow five car lengths between you and him.  If you rear-end him, your insurance will never pay up.'

Passing the car at the next light, I notice that it is a 'her' driving.

How cool is that?

Foundation part 1

'David?  One of your campers is in the infirmary.  Someone will cover for you while you go check on him.'

I was three weeks into the summer of my 19th year.  Working as a lifeguard and camp counselor seemed to suit me.  This particular week, all of the campers were from the state juvenile training centers.

I had a boxcar full of juvenile delinquents.

Sometimes you have to back up

Driving to a doctor's appointment today, I stopped short of a traffic light.  There was an exit from the hospital on my right, and I stopped to avoid blocking easy access for the cars in the parking lot.  Within moments, several drivers pulled out into traffic, waving thanks.  (I love polite drivers who wave to each other) A few pulled out across traffic to turn left.

The light turned green and traffic began moving on both sides.  One lady had waited too long and decided to pull out so she was blocking two lanes of traffic in front of me.  Two lanes were moving in the opposite direction, so she didn't budge.  Horns were beeping, tempers were flaring.

'Sometimes you just have to back up lady,' I said to the thin air in my car.  There was plenty of space for her to back into the parking lot and wait for the next opportunity.  She was bound and determined to make that left though, and soon there was bumper-to-bumper traffic backed up in the two lanes she was blocking.  Nobody going in the opposite direction was letting her in.

Finally, she got it, and backed into the parking lot.  She had waited too long, hadn't read the reality of traffic and refuse to face that reality.

Sometimes you just have to back up.

Family funnies

The following is written for my sister's smile and my mother's laugh.

I dial the number.  'Hi Mom, it's me.'

'Ah. . .um. . can I call you right back?  I'm rather busy at the moment.'

'Oh yeah, sure.'

'The cleaning lady is coming in less than an hour, so I'm cleaning the apartment.'

'You're doing wha-. . . . .never mind.'

An Eyefull

So I had to get a series of x-rays done last week to bring to the surgeon.  The story begins as I was led back to the 'x-am' room by the technician.  The tech was 30-something, had beautiful brown eyes, and um. . .ample assets.  Well what guy wouldn't notice?

She told me to take off my neck brace.  This made me happy.  I had wanted to remove the stupid thing for five weeks.

(It is important to remember that the brace is the only thing I removed.)

Which Glass to choose?

The youngest of sixteen children, my maternal grandmother emigrated to the United States in the 1920's.  She passed through Ellis Island, and was met by her older sister Theresa. . .for whom my mother was named.  Ultimately, she would become a citizen, meet my grandfather, and have three children.

Among the siblings she left behind was her brother, Eugene Lawrence O'Sullivan, or Eug' Larry for short.  He had a reputation for two things:  he never had a cross word to say, nor did anyone have one to say about him; and he was a man who liked a drink.

Braveheart Part One

"Is it ok if we invite some of our friends to come?"

"Of course.  The more the better."

My youth group had consisted of mostly boys who were now in high school.  Other teenagers from outside the church joined us for retreats and other trips, but they were also mostly guys.  So we had a core group of 18 boys when a large group of younger kids were getting ready to move up to Middle School.

And they were mostly girls.  Heh.

Trains, they are a'changing

Around five years ago, I journeyed to Asia and spent about half my time in Vietnam.  It was very cool to see my newborn little nephew. . .to wake up in the morning and buy fresh French bread from street vendors. . .and to ride on a  motorcycle out of the city and through the rice fields.

A highlight of the visit was taking the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. . .near the border with China.  There are two fares. . .the fare for the Vietnamese, and the fare for everyone else.

Will for Life 5

'David, hey.  I'm at my parents' house for the holidays.  You think you can come over to see me?  It's hard for me to get out too much here.'

'Are you kidding?  I've been wanting to see you, bud.  When can I come?'