The day began in the hospital ICU. Not as a patient or even visiting a loved one. It began as a volunteer Faith Representative. Checking in on people's needs.
The ICU was buzzing. I felt humbled and grateful for good health. Grateful to think of others.
CS Lewis said, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking less of yourself."
Our hospital shift ended, we drove home.
The next significant thing in the day's sequence was yelling at the Uber driver to stop at the red light. We were just yards away and he had yet to decelerate. I spoke with urgency, "You see the light is red."
No reaction.
"Do you see the light is red?" This time my voice was a few decibels louder. He skidded to a stop. In the skid, he realized something was wrong with his back tire. He proceeded through the light and then decided to stop to check the tire--just yards before we entered the freeway.
Tony and the driver both got out to inspect. The driver popped back in while Tony watched the tire's rotation. A large bolt had penetrated the tire. We weren't going anywhere...but we had pulled into a tire store parking lot.
We called another Uber. The driver called his daughter. As we both waited for our rides, we saw how fortunate we'd been.
Our next driver seemed more competent. He drove an older Subaru, but it didn't jolt when he used the brakes. He'd been a marine; he'd been to driving school as an employee of an oil company. With his steady hand, we'd probably make the flight on time. However, I was at peace. The next flight at 10:50 p.m, would probably have empty seats.
All was well...until a monster truck with an attached camper veered into our lane. It came within an inch (Tony's measurement), and had not the ex-marine who'd been to driving school, braked in the nick of time, we would have been sandwich meat between the truck on the right and the truck (though not as big), on the left.
We wondered if it were in our destiny to make it to the airport today, and when we made it to the airport safely, we wondered if the flight would be perilous too.
Alas! Here I am. Upgraded to seat 10 E in (Un) Comfort Plus. The middle seat between two large men. It is one of the smoothest flights I've had all year. The only problem is that I was upgraded at the last second and separated from Tony who resides in 35 C.
And honestly my only worry is that if the plane goes down, I could only wave good-bye.
That kind of day...and the harsh realization that life can and does, turn on a dime.
Pat Martinez
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