Sometimes it feels like everything that can go wrong does. When that happens, i have to find a way to be grateful and thankful anyway.
Barely into my trip last week, Sweetie was involved in an accident when a lady on a phone ran a stop sign. In spite of the loss of one of our vehicles, i am grateful neither he nor #1 Son were injured.
As a bonus, the lady has insurance, and our insurance company is helping us get through the hoops we must jump.
The second morning of my trip, i got a call from the rental car company. "The car you are driving has just had a safety recall issued, you must proceed to the nearest Hertz rental affiliate and change out for a new vehicle." Three tolls and several miles of backtracking later, we were in a different vehicle and back on the road. Even though the whole situation was a pain and delayed our arrival, i am thankful Hertz was so on top of things that they got me out of a potentially unsafe vehicle right away.
As a bonus, they didn't quibble over the fact that i turned in the first vehicle with less fuel than it had when i got it, which is usually a cause for an extra fee.
On the way home, Carmen the Garmin sent us on the scenic route instead of the interstate for the first 1/3 of the trip. At first i was not happy, but as the trip progressed, i was thankful because there was so little traffic and it really was very scenic, much more so than the interstate could ever be.
As a bonus, it meant i was late getting my friend home, which meant i spent an extra night with my friend, which meant that i was not driving that night in some terrible storms which came up.
The day after i got back, Bigger Girl called in a panic when Cicero wouldn't start. While i was trying to arrange a tow truck, she got it cranked and managed to get it close enough to Kevin and Lenny's shop that they were able to push it in the rest of the way. The repairs were $1,350, but i'm grateful i didn't have to pay for a tow truck on top of that.
As a bonus, they let her use their loaner vehicle, so we didn't end up with me and her and Sweetie all trying to share the Jalopy. Between my work and her classes and his errands, that would have been a big mess.
Today i am going to see Grandma and Grandpa, and part of the interstate is going to be closed. Even though it's a longer way, there's another interstate, and i'm going to take advantage of it, instead of taking the state highway detour which is going to be much more crowded.
As a bonus, the shorter route is only closed on the way down, i will get to take it on the way back.
Five things, not so great in themselves, but each with a silver lining and a bonus silver lining. Ten thankful things out of the difficulties of life.
Share your own silver linings and thankfulness at Ten Things of Thankful. It does amazing things for your attitude when you look for the good even in the not so good things that happen.
Special PSA -- Daylight Saving Time begins in many places 2am tomorrow, so "spring forward" one hour before you go to bed tonight if you are in one of those places. If you are not, count yourself very blessed!
Today is:
Bear Tie Ball -- Chicago, IL, US (the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation's black tie fundraiser; this year's theme is "Mission Possible")
Bunching of Fairies for the Second Flight -- Fairy Calendar
Celebrate Your Name Week -- Saturday: Geneology Day, begin or continue the journey to learn about your family
Charter Day -- Pennsylvania, US
Daylight Saving Time begins tomorrow -- Bermuda; Canada (most regions); Cuba; Haiti; Mexico (some areas); Saint Pierre and Miquelon; The Bahamas; Turks and Caicos Islands; US (most areas)
Debunking Day -- internet holiday possibly started by someone tired of internet myths
Feast Day of Hercules/Herakles -- Ancient Roman and Greek Calendars
Frankenstein's Birthday -- Mary Shelley's famous tale was published today in 1818
Girl Scout Sabbath -- US (encouraging Girl Scouts to wear their uniforms to synagogue services and represent their troop to their congregations; the final day of Girl Scout Week in the US)
Highland County Maple Festival -- Highland County, VA, US (this weekend and next)
International Fanny Pack Day -- started by someone who really likes the things (although i do admit they come in handy for keeping your money with you at all times when you have a garage sale)
Johnny Appleseed Day / Apple Appreciation Day -- death anniversary of John "Johnny Appleseed" Chapman; some say March 18
King Moshoeshoe I's Anniversary -- Lesotho
National No Smoking Day -- UK (for help quitting, go here)
National Oatmeal-Nut Waffles Day
Philadelphia Flower Show -- Philadelphia, PA, US (largest flower show in the US; through Mar. 19)
Reestablishment of Independence -- Lithuania (independence from the USSR)
St. Eulogius of Cordova's Day (Patron of carpenters, coppersmiths)
World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film -- International
Worship of Tools Day -- begun by someone who knew we would be nowhere without tools
Anniversaries Today:
Romeo & Juliet's wedding day, according to Shakespeare, 1302
Emperor Napoleon married by proxy to Archduchess Marie Louise, 1810
Birthdays Today:
Terrance Howard, 1969
Alex Kingston, 1963
Curtis Brown, Jr., 1956
Douglas Adams, 1952
Bobby McFerrin, 1950
Jerry Zucker, 1950
Dominique Sanda, 1948
Charles W. Swan, 1942
Antonin Scalia, 1936
Sam Donaldson, 1934
Rupert Murdoch, 1931
Ralph Abernathy, 1926
Mercer Ellington, 1919
Ezra Jack Keats, 1916
Harold Wilson, 1916
Lawrence Welk, 1903
Robert Treat Paine, 1731
Torquato Tasso, 1544
Debuting/Premiering Today:
"Cops"(TV), 1989
"A Raisin in the Sun"(Play), 1959
"Don Carlos"(Opera), 1867
"Rigoletto"(Opera), 1851
"I Capuleti e i Montecchi"(Opera), 1830
The Daily Courant(Newspaper; first British daily paper), 1702
Today in History:
Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty),BC1425
Volcano Etna in Italy erupts killing 15,000, 1669
The first English daily newspaper "Daily Courant," begins publishing, 1702
Queen Anne withholds Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, the last time a British monarch vetoes legislation, 1708
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is published, 1818
Unhappy with translational differences regarding the Treaty of Waitangi, chiefs Hone Heke, Kawiti and Maori tribe members chop down the British flagpole for a fourth time and drive settlers out of Kororareka, New Zealand, 1845
Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin become the first Prime Ministers of the Province of Canada to be democratically elected under a system of responsible government, 1848
The Great Sheffield Flood: The largest man-made disaster ever to befall England kills over 250 people in Sheffield, 1864
The Meiji Japanese government officially annexes the Ryukyu Kingdom into what would become the Okinawa prefecture,1872
The Great Blizzard of 1888 begins, lasting 4 days, 1888
The first confirmed cases of the Spanish Flu are observed at Fort Riley, Kansas, 1918
The Bank of Canada opens, 1935
Reginald Weit became the first African American to play in the US Tennis Open, 1948
Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," the first Broadway play by a black woman, opens, 1959
Mt. Etna in Sicily erupts, 1974
Pakistan successfully conducts a cold test of a nuclear weapon, 1983
Mikhail S Gorbachev replaces Konstantin Chernenko as Soviet leader, 1985
Infosys becomes the first Indian company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, 1999
Michelle Bachelet is inaugurated as first female president of Chile, 2006
An earthquake measuring 9.0 in magnitude strikes 130 km (81 mi) east of Sendai, Japan, triggering a tsunami killing thousands of people and triggering the second largest nuclear accident in history, 2011
Every cloud has a silver lining. It is good not to focus on the bad situation but be able to see the good behind the bad situation. Have a beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm impressed that you found the silver linings in those situations. Lots of other people might have given up! Finding the positives can really help us get through difficult times and appreciate that things might not be as bad as they first seem :)
ReplyDeleteNow I have that Monty Python song running through my head "Always look for the bright side of life."
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Mimi. Thank God everyone was OK. Your trip was unbelievable and I'm so happy that you were able to arrive home.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Saturday my friend. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
You had some bumps in your week, but you looked on the positive side of things. That's always a good thing. No need to worry over things you have no control over.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
Being grateful for what you have is so much more rewarding and uplifting than focusing on what you don't have.
ReplyDeleteIt is all the way you look at things, I am glad you were able to see the good in the bad. I am glad everything worked out and no one got hurt in the accident or the recalled car.
ReplyDeleteYou never cease to amaze and inspire me with your ability to cope with what life brings, and to find reasons to be thankful... and even bonus reasons, in each situation! I too, have often found that when God sends me on a detour there's good reason for it, or maybe just a more scenic view! Keeping vehicles up and running is a never ending issue, our truck needed four new tires this week... ouch, but so much safer for our coming road trip, so I am grateful for that. I bet your furkids were mighty grateful to have their mom home again after your mini-vacation too! I have to agree with you about Daylight Savings Time, it would be a blessing if all states ended it. :-) Thank you so much for sharing with us at TToT, I always look forward to your post! XOXO
ReplyDeleteThat accident is scary. I am glad your family is safe.
ReplyDeleteYou will remain much healthier with your attitude rather than an attitude that the world is against you. I need some of whatever you are breathing.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly did find silver linings in all that car trouble. I think it is cute and funny how they all have separate names. I love taking back roads and out of the mainstream traffic ways to get to places. I'll do anything to avoid the Interstate highways.
ReplyDeleteIt's alway interesting (and often enlightening in a certain way) to look at the events of life as continually branching stories. A detour takes you to a different route which causes the planned schedule (aka 'the future') to be altered.
ReplyDeletevery cool TToT
Nice, Mimi....I hope this week has only pure silver and gold and no need to search for linings.... But if anybody knows how it's you!!!!
ReplyDeleteSilver linings are good, and probably count double in the TToT, anyway. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great attitude. If you could bottle it I know someone that could use a dose.
ReplyDeleteReally glad everyone is OK and kudos to you for finding the good in the mix this week. A positive attitude really does make all the difference. Hope your week ahead is a smooth one!
ReplyDelete