You never know what you'll see

   I was waiting to meet a friend yesterday and, as is my nature, getting impatient because he was running late. Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, I look up and see Leo and Max. Have you heard about them? Leo is an older gentleman, wearing long hair and past-their-prime clothes, that rides a beat-up bike laden with all he owns (I'm guessing) and his shaggy brown dog Max riding in a basket on the back. You can't miss them with the American flag waving from the back of the bike and a sign that says "Leo and Max Across America."  I'd had seen them about a week ago in the same area -- near the Wal-Mart on Independence in Springfield -- on a day when we were expecting severe storms, and I'd been worried about them ever since. If my friend had been on time, I would never have seen them again and known they made it through the storms and were doing fine.
   Finally my friend made it to town but went to the wrong McDonald's. Rather than make him drive farther in unfamiliar surroundings, I went to him. Right there in the drive-up line at the other McDonald's was a burgundy car with the hood made entirely of DUCT TAPE. I swear, I'm not kidding. If there WAS an actual hood under the tape, I couldn't see it. The pieces of tape were intricately woven together covering the entire engine, as if the "hood's" construction had been building over a long time. I nearly ran into a car backing out from staring at the duct-tape mobile so intently. I just hope they don't have to lift the "hood" to check their oil or replace their windshield fluid any time soon.
   My lesson in all this was: pay attention even if things aren't happening just like you want them to. You never know what you'll see.
   By the way, I found a Facebook page for Leo and Max in case you want to know more.  Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leo-Max-Across-America/367253580894
   Have a fabulous day, Yall!  

True Purpose

   I've felt like a failure for most of my life. Since I was a kid, I thought I had this big purpose, that I was going to do something super special in my life. And I never did. Oh, I've done a lot of things -- been a massage therapist, managed a retail store, done administrative assistant work a bunch, worked at the library, been a social worker, even wrote two books -- and I didn't totally suck at any of them. But none of the things I've done seemed big or special, hence my recurring feeling that my existence was a waste of the planet's oxygen.
   Then last night my bestie Sara and I were sipping cocktails and having a chick chat. Since we've both struggled at times with this "purpose" issue, she shared an epiphany she had recently. She said (and I'm paraphrasing here, I wasn't in any state to actually write it down word for word):

Maybe we don't have some big purpose, like a job or something we'll do. Maybe we are making ourselves nuts for thinking that. Maybe it's just who we ARE that is our purpose. Like you, totally changing DMan's life by introducing him to so many things and ideas and adventures he never would have had without you. And for your mom, you being there as her confidant every day so she doesn't have to carry all the troubles of your family alone. And you make me laugh, especially when I need it so bad. And me, for the way I keep my mom from going crazy over all the things my dad does. And for how our dogs go wild when I come home, like they just couldn't wait for me to be back. And how I got you into "Sex And The City" and now you like fashion and even watch "The Fashion Police." Maybe we don't have to DO anything, just be ourselves and that's enough.

   I loved it! If what she said is true, then I haven't been a failure all along because I do try to be myself, even when myself is crrr-azy. Then today I was reading "Love For No Reason" by Marci Shimoff (love it, too! -- look for a review on bookcrrr-azygal.blogspot soon) about a man named Johnny Barnes in Hamilton, Bermuda. Well into his eighties, Mr. Barnes stands for six hours at a roundabout intersection waving at people, calling out "Good Morning!" and "Have a good day!" and "God bless you!" with a huge smile for everyone. He started doing this in the 1940s every morning before work, then upped his time 30 years ago when he retired. People drive the roundabout just to see Johnny every day. The city even erected a statue of him on the opposite side of the intersection so no one would miss his smile or wave. Mr. Barnes said, "When the good Lord wakes me up mornings, puts a song in my heart, joy in my soul, and a smile on my face, I just have to give it away." Now that is sharing the best of himself with the world!
   I doubt that I'll never feel like a failure again. It comes too easily for me. But I'm hoping that this new idea of true purpose that Sara turned me on to will help me relax a little about the "big" thing I'm not doing so I can enjoy just "being" a whole lot more.
   What's your idea of true purpose? I'd love your feedback!   

It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas . . .

. . . but wait, isn't it almost Memorial Day? Yup, but it's been snowing, sleeting and raining -- and sometimes all at the same time -- all day long. And it's snowing harder now than before, covering the freshly mowed grass. The new leaves on the trees and rose bushes are starting to get weighted down. I'm hoping the limbs don't break. Hasn't been over 35 degrees all day. On May 3rd! Anyone that doesn't believe in climate change should come to Missouri.
   Look out Kentucky Derby, this mess is headed your way. I've heard of horses being mudders, but are their snowers?? If the racing form calls one of the entrants a snower, I'd bet all my money on that horse to win!