A New New Years Resolution.

A while ago I wrote a post about how a brave little girl helped me learn to face my fears, some of them, anyway. Honestly, I don’t really want to face all of them, I think fear is a good thing, aerobic, cardio. Smart, brave people jump out of airplanes, ski down the sides of mountains, run from the bulls in Spain, go deep sea diving, and invite catastrophe at every turn. No thanks, but, I faced an orthopedic specialist and six weeks of physical therapy, like a boss!!! There is a lot to learn from the youth of the world.

Yesterday my wife had a cold, it has run rampant through the family. It settles into the sinuses and produces a nasty headache. I decided the best treatment was something spicy. And I hadn’t had enchiladas in a long time, and I love enchiladas. Nobody had any better idea for dinner. We decided our time honored New Years Eve enchiladas was a great idea. A tradition one year in the making.

We needed a few things, so I went to the store. A light rain fell as I drove the short distance to the store. It was warm for December and almost pleasant. I like to park in the far reaches of the lot. Away from everybody else. Less chance of some starving, frantic, crazed shopper with low blood sugar slamming their door into my car. And, I can always use a few steps. Plus, driving through all of the pedestrians milling around, pushing shopping carts filled with heavy bags of groceries, bottles of juice, cases of soda, and canned goods, always reminds me of something from Mad Max, or The Walking Dead. 

These people have just been through Meijer’s and are pushing a barely controllable bartering ram. From the look on their face they would have no remorse about smashing a person against the back of a minivan, leaving a broken, bleeding, expiring body sliding slowly down the lift gate. What do you think happens to all of the windshield wipers hanging limply over the license plate? I can walk in between cars, down center lines, in the words of Micheal Herr in Dispatches, I’m a “moving target survivor subscriber.” You have to keep your eyes open, be aware of your surroundings. And, I need the steps.

To keep you up to date on what’s happening folks, we were having enchiladas for dinner and needed some stuff from the store, it was warm for late December, raining lightly, and I parked at the far end of the parking lot. 

When I finished shopping and came outside it was raining much harder. It didn’t really bother me that much, it is Ohio. I just pulled up my hood, accepted my fate and walked toward my car. About halfway there I heard a child walking with a parent, singing, stomping through the puddles, enjoying life, enjoying the rain, living as large as possible for such a tiny package. And I thought life should be lived that way, all through life, rain is a gift, puddles are made for stomping, and singing in the rain is not just a movie from a forgotten time but good advice. I was happier all the way home. And I found my New Years resolution. Enjoy life more.  I don’t know who the child was, but I owe that little person a thank you.