Coffee.. the morning news.. and hunger led me to McDonalds this morning. I know I know, but I've eaten fairly healthily this week, it's time to splurge.
As I sat drinking coffee... then as I drove to McDonalds,..my mind ventured on writing a blog about "being 60-something.. how things "roll off me" now like rain on a duck's feathers.. ie, I don't/won't, get bent outta shape any longer. Yeah, that's what I'll write about...
"Welcome back, may I take your order?" Ahem. How does she know I've been here before? What if I never have? VICTOR, remember... "roll off me." Oh yeah.. k.
"Yes, I'd like a sausage biscuit, a sausage McMuffin and a cup of water please."
"So... do you want both sandwiches?"... Me.. brief silence..
Simmer down old codger, remember, this person is trying their best at minimum wage. "Yes, please." Forgive me Father, I thought internally "WHY would she ask that? I would never ask that." As I pulled to the window, I wondered what she looked like.
I got to the window, a dude handed me my sandwiches. I giggled internally, as this goes against everything the young man had been trained to do. "Get the money first." I contemplated driving off, but it ain't hard to spot a beat up silver PT Cruiser with a black convertible top and a redheaded old man that has a porn-star mustache (that's what my son says I look like.) So I paid.
Then, the "so do you want both sandwiches" lady appears, without looking me in the eyes, hands me the water and says "have a nice day" and before I could shout out "You as well" the window was closed and she was off to argue with the next chap in line. VICTOR! Water off a duck's feather! Oh yeah, sorry.
In as much as the order taker needs to get it right the first time, so do I, the grumpy old man need to get it right. I AM convinced, the older I get, the less things bug me - but I gotta admit I slip. The get it right first, to me, applies to one's reaction. I think we all have instant reactions (we discussed horn honking at an intersection) - but, relaxing, asking "Does it really matter human?" helps us get to the point of "nope, grand schemea things, it don't."
As I drove to the City Park to chomp down on my "yes both please" sandwiches, I'd remembered a recent visit with a loved one going thru chemo. This person's attitude, approach is so, so wonderful. I gulped further into guilt for allowing the short order lady to upset me.
Sport's page first. Always been that way, Believe it or not there are usually more life lessons there than in the front section of the paper. The front section carries shootings, accidents, embezzlements, Left/Right argument and ends with the obits. Getting it right would be to have the Sport's page first.
Wonderful lead article about our Chief's 2nd round draft pick that had zero to do with touchdowns, 40 yd dash speed, ego, yada... it was about his love for assisting special needs children. Started in 6th grade and has been devoted to help ever since. So Victor, how are you feeling about now about getting bent outta shape at Mickey D's?
Then, an article about our local girl's soccer team that recently won the Missouri State Championship. In leading up to the long path, they were to play the crosstown rival who had beaten them earlier in the year.. The day before the game, the Liberty coach's brother committed suicide. Geez. I can't imagine. He didn't tell the girls before the game...
After, he did. In times when there are no answers as to "why", we all react in different ways. This coach preferred to seek any good from it, and he stated "We talk about these pillars that I want the girls to learn.. and one of the major pillars that I talk about is being able to handle adversity..I said 'Ladies, a lot of things will knock you down. You have to be able to pick yourself up." Wow. Four wins later, State Champs - way to go coach!
Yes, the Sport's page has a box score, results of Nascar, World Cup, Golf, who's injured, who's signed, who's cut.. who's fined.. but it also has things that matter to humans.
Dave Parker was/is, a vibrant personality. Dave was in town to be inducted into the Negro Leagues 2019 Hall of Game. He was Mr. Baseball in the 70's, and the Godfather of the "We are family" Pittsburgh Pirates. While the smile is as huge as ever, the heart maybe even bigger - 7 years ago Dave developed a tremor... Tests would reveal he has Parkinsons. So, what's Dave do? He's devoting the vast majority of his remaining life to raise funds for Parkinsons' research. Dave got it right the first time, and the second time. A human that matters.
Stephen Piscotty, star baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals, had the world by a string. In the opening series of 2017, the Cardinals signed him to a 6 year $33.5 million dollar extension. At some point in the season, he learned his mother (living near Oakland, CA) had ALS. He skipped some games to go spend time with her. Yes, baseball is a business, but thanks to two GM's with an eye on the books - but a hand on their heart, a trade was arranged and Stephen (with contract) was dealt to Oakland - where he got to spend a great, great deal of time with his mother before her passing in 2018. They got it right, humans matter.
One more before I go. Atop the leaderboard at the current PGA golf tourney is a gentlemen named Nate Lashley, I am in his court rooting for him today. Nate turned pro in 2005.. has played on mini tours, the LatinAmerica tour.. and has sold real estate on the side to make ends meet. He FINALLY got his PGA tour card in 2018, then a knee injury shelved the remainder of the season. He's made some OK money, but a win today would earn him more money than he's made in 14 total years as a pro. Victor? Why you rooting for him?
I'm rooting for him because he probably doesn't get all bent outta shape at the drive thru window in McDonalds. You see, worse stuff has happened. His junior year in college, his parents and his girlfriend had flown to watch him golf in the NCAA golf tournament. As they flew home from Oregon to Nebraska, their plane crashed and all three expired in the crash. Imagine. I can't. I'm not certain I could ever deal with that kind of adversity, would have trouble picking myself up. Go Nate. Even if you don't win today, from my shoes, you've won. Kudos.
So if you've ordered ketchup and mustard only and you bite into a big old pickle, don't be like Victor. Water on the feathers. Scrape it off, go find a shade tree, park.. read the Sport's page. You, like me, may learn a lesson - and - find an idol to root for that has nothing to do with touchdowns, home runs, driving distance or penalty kicks.
Love, Victurd
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