And things don’t go the way that you think they will.
And cars break.
And dates are broken. And dinners post-poned. And plans canceled. Plans you were looking forward to. A wrench was violently thrown. Straight into the cogs of your life. And it ticks you off.
But sometimes it’s OK.
Because you come home and make muffins to console yourself. Because muffins in a hot oven on a cold winter day are the most comforting thing in the world.
And sometimes you find out that the towing fees will be reimbursed by your insurance company. And that the car will *hopefully* be fixed by tomorrow morning. And then life can carry on. And you’ll still get your vacation and adventure. Just a day later.
Because almost always, when these things happen, it really is OK. There’s a bright side to be found, if only you’ll look hard enough.
This go around, the bright side is my roommates who are still in town. My roommates who will come pick me up at the mechanic’s. And my roommates who will go to the Bakafe with me. To sit on the porch and enjoy the sunshine and the snow.
And the bright side is living in a community in which I don’t need a car. I can easily walk to work, to the bank, the post office, the gym, my practice space and the coffee shop. And I can walk home. I can always walk home.
And so, here I sit–on the porch at the bakery, with coffee in one hand and a soft peppermint stick in the other. And I don’t have anywhere to be, so I have the freedom to be. And that’s rare. And also a pretty decent bright side.
