You never know where the day is going to take you

Posted on Posted in Reflections on Life

3:29 AM

As I tucked my arm back under the covers I asked myself what possessed me to reach up and click the back-light of my alarm clock anyways. Why on Earth did I need to add that one more burden of realizing that I would be lifting my ass out of bed within the next few hours. How would I possibly get to sleep now I’d ask myself. Of course I knew that come 7:00 I would have hit the snooze button for the second time that morning still struggling to find the energy to start my day.

Why on Earth did I need to stay up past mid-night sipping a dram of aged Port and watching DVDs of M.A.S.H.? Episodes of which I have seen a dozen times over. How is this normal behaviour? I never bother answering that question as I knew that I’d learn nothing from it and do it all over again, perhaps the next night.

Reading this, you know what I’m talking about. You’ve done it yourself. Perhaps not watching M.A.S.H., but instead you’re locked in a Dr. Who or a Star Trek TNG marathon. Or maybe you are just hooked on watching Internet porn, who knows, but we’ve all victimized ourselves at some point by feeding our night-life to the point where we look at our watches at 1:15 in the morning and groan asking ourselves how the hell we’re going to get up in the morning.

Standing in the shower, perhaps more specifically, leaning against the wall I realize that after 30 minutes, the water has gone cold and I’ve yet to shave or brush my teeth. You see, my logic made it very efficient to shower, brush my teeth and shave all at the same time. In theory, it works, however in practice, it never seems to.

Standing there in front of the bathroom mirror, ripping small pieces of tissue and rolling them into little wads to tuck into the micro wounds I’ve inflicted upon myself. A consequence of shaving in the shower, with cold water and still only one eye partially open. Perhaps that’s God’s design, three nicks and your awake enough to start your day.

Leaning back against the kitchen counter, a bowl of yogurt with berries and flaked oats mixed in looking out the window at the Camero sitting in the driveway. Watching the droplets of condensation roll down the windshield, I’d plan my day.

Two meetings, first thing in the morning, slipping down to Second Cup between the two grabbing my coffee and bran muffin. Sunterra for a salad or cooked salmon after lunch, likely about 13:00 to 13:30 as I never make it down before noon. Work on a couple projects while eating lunch at my desk and perhaps rounding off the afternoon with another impromptu meeting or two.

“Are you going to the Spur Gastro Pub this afternoon Gary?” The first question I was hit with that day. The IT department was having a rewards get together with all our vendors and business partners and I had planned to avoid it as I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to get caught up on work. You see, I planned to use the opportunity of most everyone being out of the office, and hence not being around to disturb me or drag me into meetings, to get work done.

“Yeah, I think I will” was my response. What the hell? I can remember asking myself immediately afterwards. I had it planned otherwise, so why did I say yes.

Later, walking down to the venue with my buddy Mark, I thought to myself how it would play out. Typical political banter with a mix of both genuine and fake personae. Nothing out of the ordinary and I expected to have a good time either way. Perhaps I was looking forward to the two free drink tickets and the fact that our management has a tendency to be overly generous in handing out a few extra tickets. Are they intentionally trying to get me drunk I wonder. Who cares, I’m going to have fun, and our business partners/vendors are paying for it.

Enter the Sandman

What I’ve failed to mention to this point is that since the beginning of the year I’ve kind of been beating myself up for not disciplining myself and forgoing my own happiness in an act of selflessness. Sure my act of self-sacrifice might have been admirable, but the cost was too much, so I decided to lock away personal emotion so that I could move on and enjoy life as it played out. I had to do this as I was to be a best man at my friend’s wedding and he needed me to be solid and ride that bull. Of course, which I did. I found that locking away personal emotion, made life a lot easier. I could focus on work better and plan my future easier.

“Hey, it’s really hard to hear with the music so loud, would you like to go outside for a bit so that we can talk?” I ask. “Sure” she said with a warm smile and a sparkle in her eyes.

What the hell? Again? I would ask myself for yet the second time that day. She was tall, with beautiful blonde hair that looked smooth as silk and which flowed down over her shoulders. Her eyes, both sensual and alluring and with that little glint that would suggest that bit of mischief within her. As I followed her to the door, I couldn’t help but notice those long, slender legs that flowed up to a, ahh, …well you get the point, she is stunning.

As we talked outside, really about nothing of consequence, she gave me her business card and suggested I contact her the week following.

Back inside, I remember panicking. My day, week, month had already been planned and none of it included meeting, never-mind dating, girls. I had neatly tucked my baggage away and was quite happy with and accepting of the path I was on.

Yet, did God, reach down and bitch slap me upon the side of the head and say “Hey, idiot! Pay attention. I did not create this goddess for you to go about not noticing her!” And notice her I did. Her beautiful smile, warm personality, pleasant demeanour and let’s not forget her stunning beauty.

Since that day, I’ve taken every step cautiously. Up until now, I’ve described myself as a traveller at an airport. Simply walking through the terminal, looking at all the destinations, but never going anywhere and quite content to do so. I like airports, there is so much culture to see there. Perhaps I didn’t board any flights though because the baggage I was pulling behind me was too big for carry-on.

So what would happen if I simply left that bag in the terminal and just got on a frakin’ plane? Not caring where the destination was, but just letting myself get excited about the journey itself. I think I’m ready for that.

So there I am, standing in front of the steamed up bathroom mirror, admiring the careful placement of tissues that are blotting the blood from my lack-luster attempt at grooming myself, and wondering about the days events. Not in a million years would I have bet money on meeting one of God’s angels later that day, none-the-less later asking her out.

So before you leave the house tomorrow morning, keep in mind, you never know where the day is going to take you. Be prepared for it, and go with it.

 

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