One Week

One week ago I started  my day in the most productive way.  Up earlier than necessary, got tons of extra chores done and still managed to make it out the door with 20 minutes to spare. Chalk it up to a gut feeling telling me to do as much as possible as soon as possible.

While backing out of the garage to make a run to the mailbox around the corner, noticed my new roommate had left her window open all night. Oh well, not the end of the world, right? So I grabbed the mail, came back to the house to run upstairs and close the window. Forecast called for a  wonderful sunny CO day, free of rain, wind or hail. Again, gut feeling told me to close that sucker up. Done and done. (Coincidentally, that night it rained and poured and hailed in proportions not seen in years. Yay for gut feelings!)

Minutes after leaving home, my truck broke down. 4 blocks from home it gave up the ghost and refused to accelerate. Uh oh. And that sinking feeling in my stomach where I know that something is REALLY wrong came to stay.

Called AAA, called my truck dealership, called work to say I'd be late, and called my Dad for advice. And I Twittered. Of course I Twittered. 

Almost immediately my friend Tom  tweeted that he would come pick me up if I needed a pickup and I was free to stay with he and Dale. Just like that, no questions asked. Cause that is how Tom and Dale roll.  They've rescued me in the past and I can't think of a crisis I've gone thru where they weren't there for me in one way or another. 

Wound up having my truck towed to the Dealer and got a shuttle ride into work. My stomach was in  full-on stress mode, since I don't exactly live close to work. Not close at all.

Long story short, the news was not good (as in horrible) and it became apparent I needed to find a way to get back and forth to work for the next week. So I accepted Tom & Dale's kind offer to stay in their beautiful home while my truck was in the Isuzu ER.

Something you may not know about me is that I have a very hard time accepting help. Giving help? No problem! I am there...I'm your chick. But accepting? It's difficult...always has been.  I always feel like I must repay and repay the act of kindness right away. Add to that a small degree (some of you would say huge boatload) of control-itis (total control freak here) Do I require or expect that from those that I help? Oh hell no...not all. I'm a big fan of paying it forward. When the shoe is on the other foot, however, all that goes out the window.

Please understand this is just me being the quirky unique individual that I am. I was told repeatedly by both Tom and Dale to 'relax..don't worry..everything is fine...we are happy to help'. And they were. And are. It was humbling for me to accept, especially being in a situation where I could not repay immediately...not even close. I've had this happen while staying with other friends too. That's just how I am.

So over this last week I looked for the lesson in all of this. What could I learn? How could I grow as a person? How could I be the best houseguest possible? And how to graciously and lovingly accept help from two wonderful friends that neither asked or expected anything in return?

We don't really know WHY something happens...all we can do...all I can do...is guess and deduce and go with what feels right.

Maybe Isuzu needed the business? Maybe Tom and Dale really really really wanted to catch up with me? Maybe Tom wanted an iPhone cohort to discuss why AT&T stupidly does not provide more than 2 bars at any given time to his cell? Possibly it was meant that I meet Tom & Dale's wonderfully funny neighbors Sam & Anjanette? Maybe I needed to be in the presence of two people who truly and deeply love each other and live as  deeply committed and loving partners? (Always a plus to witness a loving relationship, no matter what the circumstance). Maybe I needed a reminder that love does happen and when it happens, it's wonderful..and that wonderfullness can give hope to others that might (might??) be open to the same thing but haven't been lucky enough to have it happen to them just yet. And just maybe it was meant that I wind up getting a free 1 day rental from my truck dealer and finding out that Nissan Sentra's are pretty zippy little cars that get really good gas mileage. Finally,  it could be  nothing more than my truck wanting some 'me' time...who knows?

I left Tom & Dale's lovely house (with their equally lovely and darling doggies Millie & Zoe) tonite shortly after work.  Some good karma came my way and I was able to keep my rental car for another day so I took that as a sign to come home.

Tom and Dale, you both are wonderful friends. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you the most. You both went above and beyond and you will never know how much your kindness means to me.  Finally, thanks for reminding me that life's not always about giving...it's also about receiving.

Message received, loud and clear.

xoxo

Comments

[Alma]

I'm the same way. It's exceedingly difficult for me to accept help. When I met my ex, it was something I really had to learn. I went through some financial difficulties and I think his kindness and help during that time helped me take the next step with him. It's an important lesson. Unfortunately, I feel like I need to keep learning it!

[Jess]

This is so sweet. I'm glad you had friends who were able to be there for you, as you would have been for them. You deserve it!

[Jen]

Your blog is freakin' spectacular lately!

I am the same way. So many people have helped me out lately that it's unreal, and I'm feeling horribly guilty. I've concocted several plans to repay my wonderful friends for doing wonderful things.

I just hope I don't forget that being a good friend in the first place is one of the best ways to repay kindness from friends.

[Heather Clisby]

You, of all people, know that Karma is cyclical. The more you give, the more you get. It makes people happy to give because intrinsically they know it will come back tenfold. I'm so glad you have wonderful friends who will rescue you but you are a Ride-to-the-Airport kind of friend and those are hard to find.

I'm more concerned with your car, which seems to leave you stranded too often for my comfort.