Gorgeous Blue Sky Day
We had dinner last night with a couple of friends whom we haven't seen much of this summer. They wanted to know what we had been up to. Ross looked at me and I looked at him and neither one of us could come up with an answer to that question. That is why I should be more diligent about writing every day.
On this past Sunday, we received sad and tragic news about a beautiful young woman who was killed in a car accident last Thursday. We never met her, but we have gotten a sense of who she was through her mother. She was a special young lady with the promise of a wonderful life ahead of her.
I understand the pain that this nice family is experiencing.
The last time I blogged, the subject was my quest to find a counselor to help support me through my grief. The first session with my potential new counselor ended with her assuming something about my spiritual inclinations and since her assumptions were incorrect, I was offended by her approach. But, I wanted to give her a chance to explain so I made an appointment for a second visit.
The day of my next appointment, I rehearsed how I would address her comments and also explain how and why I felt they were inappropriate.
I anticipated that the session would be an emotional one. I was anxious about having to talk about the loss of my son Joe. I was also nervous about having to confront her.
In addition to my racing mind, I found myself racing to get out of the house to make my appointment on time.
I walked into the office, went up to the receptionist/office manager’s window and began to rummage around in my purse, looking for my wallet. You know I have one of those organizer purses with a million zippers and pockets. But I can never remember what I put into which pocket.
As I stared at the “Payment Must Be Made BEFORE Services Are Rendered” sign, I realized that I did not have my wallet.
In an apologetic manner, I explained to the office manager, Patty, my tale of woe.
“I must have left my wallet at home and I don’t have the $20 co-pay, “ I said.
She told me in a “no uncertain terms” tone of voice that I would not be able to see the counselor if I could not pay this $20.
Since my emotions were already raw and screaming for help, I seemingly found the perfect outlet.
In a “you’ve got to be kidding” tone of voice, I expressed my outrage.
She told me that there was an ATM machine at the bank next to the office. In a “clenched teeth” tone of voice, I again told her that since I didn’t have my wallet, I also didn’t have my bank card. As I stared at the “24 Hour Appointment Cancellation Policy Sign” which stated, “If you miss your appointment, cancel or change your appointment with less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged a fee.”, she was telling me that she could give me another appointment for the following day.
In an “all I could do was sputter” tone of voice I said “Really?”
She was clearly exasperated at this point. She finally wavered and said “Fine!” “I’ll let it go this time.”
Obviously, by the time I got on the “couch” I was on fire.
I spent the first 10 minutes venting, ranting and raving about Patty’s lack of customer service finesse.
After calming down from that, my counselor and I were able to come to an agreement regarding our “spiritual” differences.
I have had another session since then. For various reasons, I’m still not sure whether or not I can continue to see this counselor. I have an appointment, but I will make sure to give 24 hours notice if I decide to change or cancel.
On this past Monday evening, a viewing was held at the funeral home in our town for that precious young woman who was killed last Thursday in a senseless car crash.
I was not at all surprised by the throngs of visitors, waiting in long lines, to pay their respects to her parents, sister and two brothers.
On Tuesday morning, the day of the funeral, the skies were threateningly dark.
At precisely the time that the procession from the funeral home to the church was to begin, a mini tornado crashed through a small area of town at the exact location of the funeral home.
According to the local news,
“The tornado,
which was ranked an EF-0, lasted from 10:05 a.m. to 10:09 a.m. and touched down
near the intersection of Route 9 and Oak Avenue, before it lifted near the
intersection of Hilliard Boulevard and Beach Avenue, according to Joe Miketta,
a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
The maximum speed
of the tornado was 75 to 85 miles per hour and had a path of 50 to 100 yards in
width and two miles in length, Miketta said.”
On Tuesday morning, after the storm passed, I happened to be driving in that area and I witnessed the destruction of downed trees and debris on the road.
In a reflective “wonderment” tone of voice, I had thoughts of “Whoa, perhaps I should rethink this whole spirituality business. "
When people ask me what I've been up to, I try to push the conversation to what I've been watching on TV. No one wants to hear what I've really been doing.
ReplyDeleteI guess I must be a little different. If I were to ask you what you have been up to, I really want to know. So what have you been up to? :)
ReplyDeleteI realize this is nowhere near on the same scale as a mini-tornado, but the other day, I was thinking about my atheism particularly as it pertained to certain peripheral Christians in my life, who often say things which imply if not outright state that God is a much more interventionist deity than I've ever known him to be. (The whole line of thought stemmed mainly from a waitress I know who said that when things get really busy at the diner she lets God take over. Irrationally and unfairly, I imagine God's hand swooping down to dole out fish fries and coffee refills.) Anyway, just as I'm thinking how even if there is a god, he does not physically act upon the world, a completely full 24 oz. bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper rolls off a four-foot-high stand and falls cap down on my bare toe. When I could think straight again (about fifteen minutes later), I couldn't help giggling (and maybe wondering a bit) about the timing. If there is a god, he certainly has a warped sense of humor.
ReplyDelete