Yesterday I went to Brattleboro to peruse shops, eat lunch and stop by the art museum. I parked my car, fed many quarters into the meter and glanced down at my front tire.
It was nearly FLAT! What to do? I walked down to Amy's Cafe and ate a delicious cream filled pastry topped with berries. Then I bought a few mysteries at the mystery bookstore. I asked the proprietor where there was a tire shop. I didnt think I could continue having fun until I took care of that tire.
An hour and a half later and $150 poorer, I had a new tire. By then it was lunchtime. So, back to Amy's Cafe for a piece of pizza. Then I walked down the hill to the art museum, risking my life crossing the road at this bizarre traffic intersection. Bizarre because it is hard to figure out who has the right of way. And the art museum was:
on Tuesday and Wednesday. Back up the hill, I stopped in a few more stores. Bought "The Compassion Box" containing a book, Lojong cards and a CD by the Buddhist nun, Pema Chodron. Usually I dont like these box things. I have actually seen a "Yoga Box" which cracks me up. But I wanted the cards. Kelly has these cards and spoke of them awhile back. When I got home, I removed the cellophane and opened the box and found:
the CD was missing. !!! Okay. Just not my day. Although I called the store and they will order me another one. That was nice. I have to admit though, I was not my usual freaked-out self with all these calamities. I did NOT get upset and innerly hysterical but just flowed along. Hmm, need tire, get tire. Hmmm, closed well do something else. Hmm, no CD (meaning another 1 1/2 hour trip to Brattleboro and back to return faulty box,) no sweat. I surprised myself with the lack of my usual angst about such things.Of course, had I been on a back road out of cell phone range when the tire blew I would probably have been very upset. But as it evolved--no sweat. And actually, the day WAS fun.
photos: small stream flowing into the Connecticut River, pharmacy in an old church, bridge to New Hampshire, closed sign at museum, Compassion Box.
19 comments:
Being in the moment is the trick :-). About that tire, I am tring to figure out why it costs so much? Here they will repair your tire for 5 dollars and new tires for my car are 50-75 apiece. What kind of tires do you have, gold? :-). Glad you had a good day!
Oh no! Isn't it strange how days like this snowball? It's certainly happened to me, and makes me want to return to bed and start again. I'm glad you were able to keep a level head. Having any kind of car problem on the road causes me to immediately freak out.
I didn't even know Brattleboro had an art museum, and think of how many times J and I have spent an afternoon there. We'll have to check it out next time.
PS: I'm surprised by the cost of that tire too.
Well Bummer but then good too as you handled it all well. I would make them send you the CD as it was missing. Not your fault. Send them a pix of it. :)
As for the tire cost, We bought some new front tires last fall and they were expenisive. Depends on your car and what kind of tires and how long you want them to last too. We went to a friends Son's place and know he was honest too.
But most of the trip looked wonderful.
Annie, I too thought the tire pricey and wondered if he was taking advantage of me although he said it was the same tire as I had on there. Perhaps I could have chosen a cheaper but new tire if I had known or thought of it.
M. Heart The art museum is right in that area where all those roads intersect kinda across the way from the health food store, kitty corner.
Cris, I am imagining the tire might be cheaper at my local tire place, but dont know for sure. It's the first tire I have replaced on this Toyota Matrix.
love the way you flowed with the punches here...good for you! and your abiltity to make lemonade out of lemons...highly commendable. life throws us curves sometimes...sounds like you caught them all.
One of those Big Lessons in Little Moments kind of days! Excellent that you managed to distill pleasures from the discomforts and sail on regardless. I'm curious to hunt up that Pema Chodron set--I'm happy to have learned of it here. I get a lot out of her teachings through her books, and do enjoy card sets so it sounds like a good fit for me. So, see?--you're spreading the joy!
louciao, the book in the boxed set is Start where you are, which I have already read. What i most wanted were the lojong cards. Welcome to my blog.
Lynn, yes, I wish I could do this rolling with the punches all the time. Life is so much easier.
It sure takes stamina to have a fun day. Hats off to you for trying and your food choices were good...! Nice to observe and accept your new way of reacting to "stuff"!
Boy Suki, talk about going with the flow! I would have been beside myself. I am proud of you and will remember all these things the next everything goes wrong!
I love that new header!!
I love how you title this post "A Day of Fun". That's keeping the old chin up, old chap! I'm not sure how positive I would have remained through all that, but you did great. Don't feel lonely; I have four tires on my car that cost that much each and I get flats all the time with my job. It just happens. At least you were somewhere that you could get help. I usually have to rely on the kindness of some man being at home.
When you have days like those, you just have to laugh, it's the only way to get through! :)
The boxed cards look great (I nearly got a set back when Kelly mentioned them) and I love the idea of starting where you are.
I hope going with the flow becomes your mantra Suki!
seems the joy overrode the angst,the post has a very relaxed feel about it.
It really doesn't pay to get upset over things you cannot control . . . (maybe I should repeat that to myself about a hundred times today). ; D
Glad you enJOYed the day despite the glitches. I sure enjoyed the pics, though I wondered what Amy's Cafe looked like. I pictured it in my mind, figuring it was cozy with good food but probably nothing special/unusual (or your camera would have snapped a shot or two).
Have a happy Thursday. I am having a stay-at-home-and-tidy day after so many out-and-about days. Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! It should be a nice change.
This post is such a testament to the power of befriending the present moment and letting go of expectations. Good for you! I am been in that space lately, too, and gosh, it feels good!!! "My usual freaked out self" made me laugh.
thanks y'all. I was less cool yesterday when I saw that my REAR tire was nearly FLAT too. Luckily I was near the local tire place and for $10 they patched the tire.
Yes, it is something how we have those days when everything seems to go wrong--- and yet you moved on with grace and always found the 'silver lining'
Oh my, this post just shows how you are now making lemonaide out of lemons...That just makes me smile and believe that something is in the works here!
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