Sunday, April 14, 2013

rewrite respin do over

Just browsing my old posts and thought this one could use a respin with a bit of touch-up. Nice thing about a post - you can rewrite them.


snake first responders ?

Flippin responders



Just got a call - "so what's up" my daughter says.
"You called me. Why you asking me?" was my somewhat confused reply.

Daughter wanted to know if I could drop whatever and go watch this toddler who she often babysat because of blah, blah. Not too big of a deal, if it wasn't on such short notice. I'm still processing (make, drink, eliminate) the morning coffee, give me a little warning. The problem was solved in the end and the toddler has grown since.

I'm not a first responder. Makes me wonder how well sixty-something firemen or EMS people do. One thing about being an ambulance driver though - you get to give people "the ride of their life".

Good thing I didn't jump on my daughter's request because within 5 minutes I got another call from mom-in-law. She needed some online help with her tollway account.

These are just examples of small unexpected events. You probably have plenty to report on too. Nature and its weather can throw unexpected things at you (wind, hail, snow, etc.). I once watched it rain mud. We should but don’t expect the unexpected.

These little unexpected life events add up. They can stress you or stretch you. Today in a column about imagining your own future, Chicago Tribune columnist, Mary Schmich, wrote:

We all box up our lives into stories. One story is the memoir, who we once were. The other is the fantasy, who we will become. We live in between, changing without even knowing it until it's happened.
Whether you're in high school or long out of it, you can't know who you'll be until you get there.

There was a time in my life that I was on call for events. It was during my Air Force career. I didn't care for it much but I did get to carry an important-looking radio with me (before cellphones kids) so that was kinda cool. Also, a parent is always 'on call 7by24'. So there was that. But all my kids can drink now (unexpected call for a beer - that's a good unexpected event).

So if you are going to run out of gas, have a dead car battery, or get stuck in the snow, please provide at least 24hr. notice. If you're calling to invited me for a beer well give me 30-40 minutes depending how far away the bar is.

Now where did I put that bottle opener?

4 comments:

Cheryl P. said...

Interesting comment by Mary Schmich, I guess I have memoirs, and fantasy part (I am thinking that may be an exaggeration as to what my future looks like...kinda has a fairy tale sound to it) so what is this middle part...or more accurately somewhat past the middle part called.



I agree with you about how all the little unexpected things eat away a day. As long as they are pleasant things, I am OK with that. Having a dead car and such would not make for pleasant "surprise."

lisleman said...

thanks I hope you had the chance to read her whole article. It's about how we view change. I guess the middle part in this scheme is now. Surprises range from disaster to the ideal. I guess first responders deal more with the disaster part of the range.

Lilly said...

He he. Yes well I need time too to think about stuff. I am not that good under pressure. I panic. I could manage the baby sitting job and the tollway stuff but if its some kind of disaster or one that involves blood then.....no. I am not the person to call.

lisleman said...

I don't think I panic much but I do get anxious about deadlines and appointments. I also would rather think things through than rushing.
thanks

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