Yesterday,I did my usual morning routine and drove my son and exchange student 1/2
mile to meet the bus. The thermometer read minus 5 Celsius. I donned my thick polarfleece bathrobe and slippers, put my down jacket over it, and I was ready to face the sharp, cold air.

As we got to the bus stop, I noticed that the wipers (I use them to remove the frost from the windows) were going really slowly and my dash had dimmed and then gone out. So my 16 year old son suggested starting the car again, maybe it was just a glitch, kind of like when you reboot a computer. Well, THAT didn't work, the car died right on the spot! I KNEW it had to be the alternator, because the headlights and radio still worked. Because the car is a standard, I was able to roll it out of the way.

The bus came, whisked the boys off to school, and there I was in my bathrobe and slippers, coffee cup in hand having to walk half a mile home on our dirt road-LOL!

At first, I was getting angry, RANT RANT, the alternator will be expensive, rant rant, it's cold out...well, you get the picture.

I did The One Command, short version:"Help!"
Then,a really amazing thing happened. The NEW default programming kicked in, it was the neatest thing. "Well,at least it isn't raining. And I'm not that far away from the house, and I could use the exercise anyways. I'm nice and warm with the polarfleece and down jacket. At least the car broke down AFTER I fixed the other one, so I'm not stuck without a vehicle. And thank goodness I got that order,
now I'll have the money to pay for it. I'm really lucky to have 2 cars."

And as I was walking, a car drove by-perhaps they were afraid to stop, seeing some crazy lady walking alone in the cold in a bathrobe and house slippers-LOL! I'm sure that the driver probably figured it out once they saw the broken down bright blue Focus ZX3 hatchback at the end of the road. But I was enjoying watching the sun rise over the
lake so much that I didn't even flag the driver down.

When I got home, it was so wonderful to feel the warmth of the woodstove. AHHHH!!!
So I immediately called AAA (an automotive club that includes free towing-and a great example of use value over cash value)and had a big laugh with the woman on the other end over walking home in my bathrobe.

When I spoke to my mechanic, he said that he'd be willing to wait for his money until I got paid and that I could take the car home right away, because I am a good customer. I was blown away. And the car is already fixed!

Later that morning, my oldest son came by and offered to rake all the dead stuff from the shoreline in front of the house and did a wonderful job. His doing this is a miracle in itself, because a year ago he was hooked on heroin, and he was lucky if he was able to wash out his coffee cup.


So today, I am feeling wonderful, and CONFIDENT that more $$ is on its way, but not focused on it (a freedom in itself NOT TO FEEL NEEDY), KNOWING that I am okay right now where I am, appreciating the warmth of the woodstove and the amazing view of the lake as the shore is beginning to freeze, and I wanted to share my joy, peace and appreciation with you all.

Love and Light,
Julia

quote:

Then,a really amazing thing happened.

Julia that's a great story. There is that magic point when you accept a situation totally and then you get okay with it. And somehow it all turns out better than you expected. Thanks for including us in the experience!

quote:

Originally posted by Ancient Soul:
and there I was in my bathrobe and slippers, coffee cup in hand having to walk half a mile home on our dirt road-LOL!

Oh my! I love these stories!

Julia seeing her son off in her night attire, Rebecca writing her erudite words in her jim jams, Teresa and her son in their wild get ups at Fire Alarm time.

You've all made my day!

and the images of the cat being stuffed into the carrier and the wide eyed look from the next door young ones... Oh my!!!

Thanks LOL

Carolyn

Now that I've stopped laughing until I cried at the visual of Rebecca in PJ's and her Poobah Hat, I could so relate to Julia's story. Just this week, at 3:00AM, the fire alarm went off in my building. After the slapstick routine of getting the cat stuffed into the carrier (because that's what it took), and after educating the 20-something girls who live next door that the awful noise was a fire alarm (They asked. Seriously.), we got our car out of the garage and parked in the lot to wait for the fire department to give the all clear.

It was then that I looked at my son and myself and just erupted with laughter. He in his "Superman" pajama pants, yellow and black slip-on sneakers, a striped wool cap that I don't even remember with his wild curls sticking out and a coat that looks like it came from the Salvation Army.

And then there was me: purple cat-eye glasses, hair going everywhere, brown velour pants w/ paint and bleach stains from making art, a ratty t-shirt topped w/ an old silk sweater, all topped, of course, with an Italian wool coat from Bloomies.

I said, "I'm glad this is a false alarm, because nobody needs to see us like this." To which my son dryly replied, "Mom, you're wearing a coat from Bloomies. What else do you need?" To which we laughed that much harder.

So we shifted from the adrenaline, fear-based thinking to humor and actually finding things to experience with gratitude about the situation...the warm clothes and the car in 29 degree weather, getting the cat out safely, the time to just laugh and be together. And, of course, that it was a false alarm.

Life really is very very good.
Blessings,
Teresa

Love it, Julia!

OK, here's my "true confession." I almost always write The Certain Way in my pajamas!

(TMI, I suppose! But they make quite the outfit with the Poobah Hat -- the perfect accessory for ANY occasion.)

Hey Julia,

I wonder how many of we women can relate to your story with the bathrobe and the car.
In the past I have taken my boys places and went in my pj's and robe. I use to always say aloud, "boy I hope I don't break down or get a flat".

Now of course I wouldn't say or think that because thoughts become things. So now when I do this (and I still do) I know I will make it back just fine.

So I can definitely relate to your experience. And it is so great that you decided to enjoy the brisk walk and enjoy the sunshine.

I thoroughly enjoy all your posts. I think you are one intelligent and talented woman with all kinds of resources.

A friend in Pennsylvania,

Hi Julia

thanks for another "warm" (pun intended ) story! Another SOGR moment to cherish, and though Wally didn't mentioned in directly, genuine laughing from the belly sure feels good, the way exercise produces more endorphins in our brains.

Julia,

Thanks for taking time to post. I love hearing from you. It's like getting and post card from New Hampshire every week.

Diane