Moments D417: Lost car in the parking garage

Ever had one of those days where the clock seemed to be on FAST? That was today. The day flew by and the evening went just as quickly. Before I knew it, I was late to leave my place to head to Pearson! My friend’s plane, of course, was scheduled to land early!

Fortunately, I managed to get to Pearson just after his plane landed. I parked and fast walked to the arrivals waiting area. And yes, I noted where my car was, but apparently not well enough!

After our reunion in arrivals, we walked back to the parking garage. Deep in conversation, we walked right past the aisle where my car was and before I knew it I was completely turned around! It was embarrassing, and it was somewhat humerous. A couple of aisles and moments of laughter later we gave up and started to use my fob for the car alarm. That didn’t really help since we were facing the wrong direction! Laughter ensued, but shortly thereafter, we found the car. Right where I left it. And I noted how we had just walked all the way around the aisle that it was in.

It was an amusing moment of my day and it broke a lot of the day’s tension. It’s funny how something so silly can do that.

Moments of “aha!”

Moments of laughter & silliness.

Moments D416: Rain, rain come along.....

Today I made up my own little song or rhyme. I was inspired as I was tagged to play in a late baseball game last night as a sub. After a busy, tiring week, I wasn’t sure I wanted to head out to play baseball at 9:30pm…..in a wet field.

So, instead of chanting away the rain, I made up a new chant.

It made me smile. It’s the moment I share today.

Rain, rain, come along

Let me sing my silly song

Rain, rain, com along

It didn’t work. I played ball. We won. I ran the bases four times. But it was fun to sign it all day long and to taunt our baseball coach that we’d be rained out. My punishment - it rained while we were playing. We all got wet! We laughed a little more. It was so much fun. I’m glad I went. I’m glad my chant against the rain didn’t work.

Funny how things work out sometimes!

Moments being silly.

Moments singing.

Moments D415: Inspiration, Love and Joy

Today was an intense day. It was a day that started with a simple, yet highly inspirational, email from a dear friend on his way into town this coming weekend. It was followed by an intense day of work, then a mid-term for school (which I think was successful!) and then a meeting for my new business adventure. I drove out to meet the founder and another of his core team members for a 9:30pm meeting! What an inspiring meeting that was, my brain is on fire, even though I’m tired from the rest of my day (well week really!). This business adventure is, if nothing else, going to be an experience for me that will most certainly expand my tool kit. This excites me! As I started my drive home, I thought this was surely my moment to share today, but it was trumped. (And yet I snuck it in!)

The moment that brought me the biggest moment of my day was the phone call on my 30 minute drive home. I called my girl from the North (I am officially going to dub her HAWK, as I believe this is one of her totems. I’m sure she will correct me if I’m wrong, but after reading this summary of HAWK as totem, I think it fits her well.)

Hawk was entertaining guests. I knew she had guests. I expected a short and sweet call. What I didn’t expect was the outpouring of love. From her and from her “boy-next-door” friend. Although short and sweet, the moment filled me with love and joy for my best friend. I was delighted to hear her so happy and so giddy. (She too had a rough week last week!) And, even 230km away, I felt I was right there with her.

Amazing really.

Moments of inspiration, of love and of joy. All in one day. I AM FORTUNATE!

And now that my exam is over, I can think beyond today. The weekend is coming. I have a friend coming in from out of town. I’m further inspired, filled with love and joy for those moments to come. I am ready to learn how to fly.

Moments to be inspired.

Moments being filled with love and joy.

Moments D414: Statler and Waldorf

Today was busy day from the start with one final (marathon) meeting before the big trade show. The good news: we are near ready. The news bringing anxiety, we are only days away and there is yet much to produce.

And, as you may recall, my team and I have been displaced due to an office fire. As such we are all working together in very tight quarters. There is little privacy (actually I don’t think there is any privacy come to think of it!) and we are, at times communicating to one another out loud for all to hear. It’s been an interesting dynamic and it has certainly pulled us closer as a team. (And we now better understand musical preferences and the value of earphones, but I digress!)

In the room (which I like to call the war room as we are nearly all sitting around one big table) my CD and I are situated at what has been lovingly labelled “the head of the class”. (In some ways it does feel that way, especially when I have an apple on my side and my CD has a ruler on his!) In other moments, like today, we were lovingly labelled “Statler & Waldorf.”

Now, if you don’t know Statler & Waldorf, they are muppets who heckle from their balcony seats. The funniest thing: They are a bit grumpy and grouchy about their heckles and they laugh furiously at their own jokes. And, while my CD and I are not old men, nor are we grumpy or grouchy, we do have many a quip for the team during a day and boy oh boy do we laugh heartily at our own jokes.

So yes - that comparison made me laugh. It makes me smile now even as I share the moment. I loved it in that moment and I love it now. Knowing that we can make the team smile and laugh and we can laugh at ourselves is priceless.

Further, it reminds me, yet again, at what a great team I’m on and I am grateful for all the moments I work with them. Their words, insights and silliness are what makes the day an enjoyable day. Today, I am thankful for the label and the smile!

Moments being labelled.

Moments of pure, unadulterated laughter!

Moments D413: Waiting at the street car stop

On my way home tonight from work, I was behind a street car for awhile. One of the times I slowed to wait for passengers to get off the street car, I noticed that there was a man standing at the street car stop with a big black umbrella. He was not making any move to board the street car. I was curious.

The rear doors opened and off stepped a woman. She broke into a friendly smile and went right into his arms, sheltered under the big umbrella.

He was waiting for her at the stop with an umbrella. I can’t tell you how impressed I was. I was touched by this chivalrous gesture. As much as I am an independent woman, I still love to see these small (HUGE) gestures of love and respect. (I would do the same for my partner - why not!)

How incredibly sweet and adorable and in love they were It was a moment that, as a passing stranger, brought a smile to my face.

Moments enjoying strangers in love.

Moments reminding yourself what you are looking for.

Moments D412: Never too old to try something new

Today I tried something new. It’s nothing special or unique or anything that many other women haven’t tried and been successful with. Frankly, I’ve always wondered what the fuss was about and, needing a study break, I figured - why not give it a shot.

And so I did. I’m still trying to figure out the pros & cons of this new process, but in trying it out, I realized that I’m not too old to try new things. Not even things that I likely should have tried years ago. That’s my moment today. Realizing I’m never too old for something new. Although, as I type this out, I suppose there are a few things that will, by nature, be crossed off my list. For example: physically having children. To date, even that is within the realm of possibility at this point, but it won’t be forever. Perhaps contortionism is a better example. That’s something better left to the limber bodies of young girls!

Seriously, regardless of a small handful of things that I can’t do because of my age, the fact of the matter is, there are a lot more things I can still try and explore and do, regardless of my age.

Today was just a little reminder of that. Thank you study break.

Moments trying something new just because.

Moments realizing age will not hold me back unless I choose to let it.

Moments D411: Vacuum Storage Bags - Shrinking items?

Today was a very late start for me as I slept in to nearly noon. (After crawling into be at 5am, who could blame me, right?) I found myself groggy and my mind unclear, so a day of hard studying really wasn't in the cards as I had hoped. I did read a couple of my articles that I was behind and later in the day I ventured out to finally pick up a few vacuum storage bags and put away my winter outerwear, extra blankets, duvets and comforters.

The moment of my day comes from this brief excursion. As I was checking out with only two packages of these storage bags, the cashier asked me, very seriously, if when you vacuum these bags if the items inside shrink. Confused at the question, thinking perhaps there was a loss of thought as English was not her first language. Instead of answering her question directly, I explained how the bags worked: by vacuuming out all the air from the bag, which takes up less space. She asked again “But does that shrink the items in the bag?” I was surprised at this question and answered no, not the items in the bag do not shrink. There is just not more air in the bag.

She smiled at me in a way that suggested she still didn't understand me. I smiled back to her and wished her a good evening.

Sometimes even simple ideas can be complicated to some. A reminder that we are all different in how we understand and perceive things.

Moments failing to explain.

Moments accepting this for what it is.