Adventure on Madison

SETTING THE SCENE
On Wednesday I was driving the Jr. High gals home after Bible study. One lives pretty far out and so we started heading west down Madison. Just past Cicero (you know, right where the road is significantly sketchy) there is this loud KNOCK on the bottom of the van. Poor Fillup the Heifer.  :( It was so loud and jarring I thought maybe we dropped the transmission or something, but we still had power, so really I had no idea what happened. I pulled over and told the girls to stay in the van while I walked around and looked under it. I couldn't see anything strange---no fire, no smoke, no hanging parts, no flat tires....hmmm.

THE PLOT THICKENS
I hear a man behind me shouting "It's back here!" and pointing at the ground. He picks up a chunk of steel and holds it up for me to see. Ohhhh... the muffler finally fell off. So I start walking limping toward him and the muffler. Thankfully he had gloves on and was able to pick it up even though it was hot. He offered to bring the muffler to the van since I didn't have gloves on... how kind, right?

THE PLOT TAKES A TERRIBLE SPIRAL DOWNWARDS
As we are walking back to the van, the "kind Samaritan" says to me: "Normally I would ask for money for something like this..." (REALLY!?!?!) "But I'm a real nice guy, so you know I won't ask you for anything" (Well that's good, cuz I don't have any money to give you) As soon as that was done, he said to me "So, are you alone?" (Creepiest question I have ever been asked, any chance I could outrun him in this boot....?) As he set the muffler down in the van in slow motion he told the girls to put his number in their phone. AND YOU'RE DONE!

Facts of (my) Life:

1. I met a man named Attila this week. Like the Hun! CRAZY!
2. The fire alarm at work started going off and I got excited to wear my safety vest, but then it stopped suddenly. What a tease!
3. I am on the CTA’s hot list. No seriously…apparently requesting a new card automatically deactivates your current card and the attendant assumes you have stolen it. I was going to make up an elaborate story about how I jumped the turnstiles, etc to get on CTA’s “most wanted” list, but I couldn’t come up with anything to be the etc.
4. The is an alarm clock called the Wake N’Bacon that you put a piece of frozen bacon in the night before and then you wake up to the smell of freshly cooked bacon. Who loves bacon? AWESOME!
5. I travelled the distance to visit my friendly podiatrist today. All I could do is shake my head as I mapped out the way to get there. How did I end up there last week?
He removed the cast. WOOHOO!
He also told me to leave the boot on a few more days. BOOHOO!
6. COUNTDOWN TO SEEING ALLI: 4 DAYS!
7.  I went to prayer meeting the other night with Joscey. (Note: She is really spiritual and influenced me to do that instead of go to Sweet Tomatoes with a coupon. Good woman!) We left the heifer at home with Dave so he could put antifreeze in it while we were gone. One the way home I text him a little reminder asking if he got a chance to “fill up” the van. I read it aloud and Joscey thought I was referring to the van as Phillip the Heifer. I really think that name should stick….but spell it Fillup. I do love to name things.
8. The boots really are waterproofed! Let me know if you need anything waterproofed. I am a master at it- apparently!
9. Today is Noelle's birthday and I just love that girl! A true friend is one that loves you through all those crazy life stages- Noelle had had the "joy" of seeing me through some rough ones...oversized Winne the Pooh t-shirts and American flag culottes with matching scrunchie...you know! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL!

Snow Globe

Laying on my bed with my left foot propped up on a stack of blankets with the window blinds open, I feel as though I am in the midst of a snow globe. So I put on Rosie Thomas’ Christmas album and am enjoying the winter wonderland pretty well.

In preparation for this snowy time of year I bought waterproofing spray for my fake ugg boots from Payless. (BOGO!) This morning I put on the first coat – I think it was a success. I’ll let you know on Monday.  

At the end of summer, I started reading through Anne of Green Gables series. Though I love the movies, I never took the time to read the books. They have been DELIGHTFUL! I am now on book 5… looking forward to this wedding.

Since being in the boot, Hyacinth and I have watched 2 seasons of HGTV’s DesignStar and some of Samantha Who? on Hulu. Yes, I am so bored….out of my mind!

Now, I am convinced what a gift mobility is- one that I am determined not to take for granted for a long time after this  experience. It takes a million times more effort to haul yourself places and so much longer to get around on CTA. It is teaching me quite a bit about patience – which I could stand to learn a few things about I admit- so that’s a plus.

COUNTDOWN TO GETTING THIS CAST OFF: 7 DAYS!

COUNTDOWN TO SEEING ALLI: 11 Days!

Feet

I came back from Thanksgiving in Michigan with my family on Monday and I was a hot mess. Now, I know people say that all the time, but really I was the epitome of this description. 2 suitcases, a purse and a Christmas tree is alot to juggle on public transit... and I'm sure watching me made more than one person's day on the el platform. You're welcome. Despite running into posts and persons and moving my gear to my spot on the train 1 piece at a time, I made it home and was never happier to sit on my bed with Hyacinth and catch up on the latest Internet happenings. Sometime between that blissful moment and the one when I decided to go grocery shopping in a downpour my left foot started killing. I pushed through the pain and hauled all my groceries in but found myself hobbling more and more throughout the night.

The next day it was excruciating and close to impossible to walk on. I stayed home from work and attempted to get medical help for my foot and my cold- did I mention I had a cold...? HOT MESS. I told you. I took the heifer (my affectionate name for our 15 passenger church van) to the community clinic. They were so kind, but the woman I saw did not leave me convinced she knew what the problem was or how to fix it. so I called a podiatry office or two to make an appointment. The problem was they were booked to Christmas.

I was frazzled that my problem could not be fixed in 2 seconds- that's about my patience level for things like that. I need progress and facts and treatment plans and solutions- not rest and pain meds. I was determined to go home and find some place where I could see a foot doctor. I tried hard to get home...SO HARD, but somehow I got super turned around and before you knew it I was so far from home and had no idea how to get back there. See my route below: A= Doctor's, B=Point of hopelessness and anger and tears and construction, C= my home


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At point B, in the midst of all my chagrin.... an impressive amount of it too I might add... I saw a sign for a foot doctor's office. Feeling aggressive from all the chagrin, I turned in the parking lot in front of the steam roller working on the road and went to the office to see if they happened to be seeing new patients and if they had any openings.... right now. :) Can you believe they did? And that the staff LOVE Jesus and Moody? And they took my pain really seriously and did x-rays and gave me a soft cast and a boot to wear around for a week or so? And the office is super old school and the doctor tapped my foot before leaving and I felt like one of his grandkids? How does that even happen?
I felt a considerable amount of relief from the pain and should have been elated with this development; which I was...for awhile. But I felt discouraged by all the extra work lugging this boot around would be, and suddenly didn't find feeling like a hot mess very amusing and  the next thing I knew I was laying on my bed in the "depths of despair". bleh!

Joscey called me just then and offered to come over later that night. It might sound silly, but I felt so incredibly loved and like I belonged that she would do that in the midst of her busy family life. That she would come and bring me dinner and a hug and listen to me drone on about all my fears and failings and pray with me. I was reminded by her kindness that this is how God cares for me...  Too often I find myself wallowing in self pity because I don't have a spouse or a family and am alone in life.(wah.wah. wah.) But really that is such a pathetic and ungrateful attitude because in every moment I need someone, God provides me with a member of His body; sometimes a hand,other times ...a foot. :) 

All Things New

I ate a juicy delicious cantaloupe for dinner tonight. Thinking of and loving Grandpa....SO MUCH!

Hope Floats

At some point in my life I have seen this movie, but all I remember about it is Sandra Bullock line dancing while Harry Connick Jr. twitches his lip in sync with his eyebrow. The title is applicable to my thoughts tonight even if I have no idea what it has to do with boot scoot boogies in Hollywood.

There is something poetic about hope…it undoubtedly keeps us afloat at times; keeps us from throwing in the proverbial towel. In the spiritual arena we have such grand hopes- heaven, glory, righteousness, calling, salvation, eternal life, light, justice, etc. I have my list of frivolous earthly hopes too- a husband, children, a guesthouse with paned windows,  trim down 50 pounds, etc.  Though I know the only ones guaranteed to me are the spiritual ones, there is a quality in all of them that causes me to look forward and press on toward the future.

These hopes feel like a double edged sword at times to me though. Waiting for faith to be made sight seems to take FOREVER and I find myself losing heart that they will ever be realities after all. It makes me feel impatient and weary to imagine keeping that flame of hope flickering any longer.

Ever since my grandpa died 2 years ago I have had this uncanny ability to choose really great cantaloupes. He had a knack for choosing a good one himself. He also used to torment the old women at the fruit market, doing everything short of a dance to test out the melons while watching them copy his “technique” out of the corner of his eye. It’s nothing superstitious, but a gift nonetheless to cut into one and be reminded of what a great grandpa I had. Last week I bought a cantaloupe from Pete’s market. I cut into it to find it was hard and dry and terrible. It may seem silly but it devastated me. 

When I came back to Chicago from a family fun weekend in Kalamazoo, my house was here waiting for me. Everything was in the exact spot I left it, it was silent and there was no one to welcome me home. I felt so small and insignificant….and forgotten. Being spoiled with affection around my family for a couple days and then coming back to all my stuff was a stark contrast. Don’t get me wrong, I have a very full and meaningful life but sometimes the loneliness makes me anxious about the future.

Walt Disney, Sandra and Harry failed to mention that hoping is hard work; that it takes grit and determination and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a beautiful thing that I cling to even though on some nights it is only by a thread. God’s promises are secure and one day we will not need hope any longer. Our longing and waiting will be over and we will see Him face to face!

This thirsty soul drinks in the comfort of that surety.

2 Corinthians 4:16| Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

SAFETY FIRST

Practicing blowing my whistle

 That's right.... you should all be jealous. Today at work I was appointed FLOOR MONITOR! If there is a fire...or a fire drill I have to put on this vest, blow my whistle and make sure all in my office complex vacate to safety.  

Can't hide from saftey

 My new role reminds me of this video

"Be where you should be, not where you shouldn't!"