Sometimes Reverse Is Required

Car wash...are you scared yet? An every day errand; no big deal. For most, but not all. For some, it is an anxiety riddled experience. I am not talking about a sponge and a garden hose on Sunday afternoon. I am talking about the cavernous, dark cave that you drive through.  It is different for everyone.

I drive up, getting close enough to reach the key pad and enter the code. The magic combination of numbers that sets a series of events in motion. Push the enter button and the light ahead turns green, instructing me to drive forward. Carefully lining up the tires to hit the track, set the gear in neutral, and wait. The water begins to flow as the machinery whines and winds into action. Wet soapiness slides down the windows, spinning barrels covered in absorbent tassels, beat against the car, giving it a brisk bath. A quick rinse and the light giving the go ahead shines bright. Putting the car in gear, passing slowly forward under the dryer, you return into the light of day. That is a normal  "as it should go" car wash.

And then there is the day it goes a bit wrong.  Getting the car washed has never been an anxiety filled experience for me personally, but I do know others that can not  make that claim. First one that comes to mind would be the the best furry friend a girl could ever imagine, my Emma. She loved going with me, as I weaved through town in and out of stores and shops, whittling down the to do list. One errand she did not choose to be along for, was definitely the car wash. I made an effort to honor this but, on occasion, she was along for the ride. On these unfortunate days, she would give me a look that said, "Why are you doing this to me?"

For these moments, as we traveled at a pace far too slow for her comfort, she sought solace the only way she knew. Every time we took this unwanted journey into the noisy cave, my 60 pound baby would position her entire Boxer self in my lap for the duration of, from her perspective, the torture! These days I always get the car washed alone because my dear friend Em is in puppy heaven and far from anything that could cause her the smallest worry. Other than her car wash puppy palpitations it, for me, has always been uneventful.

However recently there was this one particular afternoon...it was business, as usual....until.... it wasn't!

Drive up, punch in the numbers, drive forward, put the car in neutral, machinery begins to move and then, it stops!! Silence surrounds me and I am stuck!!! Forward is not a choice. If you were me, what would you do? Well, I sat there for a minute reviewing my options and I came to this conclusion. I had one crazy, ridiculous, should I dare try it, option.

So, I put the car in the appropriate gear and tentatively put my foot on the accelerator watching carefully, thanking God that no one else was behind me, I backed out of the car wash. Parking my still dirty car, I went into the little store and asked the attendant for a fresh code. I had paid for this car wash and I thought to myself that it wouldn't hurt to ask for a do over.  I explained the unusual situation and she responded with "You what?" I can't blame her; it is, after all, a drive through  car wash.

 At this point she asked me to step aside and wait a minute. After about fifteen minutes of waiting for other customers to have their needs addressed, she walked me out to the car wash. It was obvious that she was under the distinct impression I was in need of a tutorial! After a brief conversation, she realized, despite my previous actions, I did know what to do. Left to my own devices, I got in the car to try again.  Fresh code in hand, I drove forward with most of my confidence intact. Number entered, getting the green light, once again, I moved forward and uneventfully completed the task.

As goes life, sometimes you are going along with routine and the unexpected shows up. Sometimes you need to back up, back off and reset...regroup. Don't let the setbacks of life shake your confidence to the point you feel like you can't go forward, you can't try again. Sometimes we need a do over.

Attitude, Altitude, Platitude

It might raise your life experience if you decide

to become flexible in your attitude

to take a chance, change your stance.

Drop your many platitudes.

Begin to release your original thoughts.

Show off your sterling character.

Your perspective could gain altitude

 while your life gains depth.

 ENJOY THE VIEW....................DRINK DEEPLY