Todays challenge was “To enjoy the people around you – take a moment to appreciate their unique talents, abilities and personalities…”
Shit! Another day of having to notice stuff right in front of me.
Wow! I am writing this the morning after…
Yesterday I tried, I really tried….
- I drove from our place in the country as I was looking forward to going down to Adelaide to see my mates at the shooting club. I set off early, there was no traffic, I had plenty of time even though I knew there were a lot of road works.
- I made great time, not speeding and the road works were fine. Virtually no traffic and I seemed to come up behind cars just before a passing lane and went through smoothly – the coffee Jo made me before I left was still hot a Blanchetown so I didn’t stop anywhere….
- I hit the traffic at Gawler, but was on the northern expressway and then Pt Wakefield road and it was all cool – I was ahead of schedule…
- I thought I would just stop at McDonalds (as Jo wasn’t in the car!) and get a quick bite to eat – I was ahead of schedule.
- Pulled in, first car in the line, simple order, go to pay. They get my change wrong – that’s okay – “No, I gave you $21.20 and it was $11.20 so that’s $10.00 change” – blank look as I hand back $8.80 – “didn’t you give me a $10.00?” – “Would that mean my meal was $1.20” – blank look with hand open showing change. Much pressing of buttons on the till. “What did you give me again?” “I gave you a twenty dollar note, a dollar coin and a 20 cent coin – $21.20, the meal was $11.20, thats $10.00 change.” – blank look, reaches out takes money from my hand. Much pressing of buttons on till – car behind beeps horn – girl with blank look hands me $10.00 (does not speak) – I say “Thanks, sorry about the confusion.” – blank look “Welcome, to McDondal’s can I take….” I drive to the next window.
- In the 10 metre drive – I try to be Zen, greet the morning sun, this is not important…. peace, tranquility, zen master entering my head…. breath….
- Next window – another blank face – hands me a bag and a drink “Here’s your order” – “Thanks” I say to empty window. Check order – wrong burger – waiting for coffee. Blank face comes to window “‘you right” (the phrase I hate the most in the world) – smile “My burger is wrong and I ordered a coffee.” blank face – takes bag. Returns a millennium later – person behind beeps horn – bag handed to me “I ordered a coffee as well?” – blank face – empty window. I smile – it don’t mean nothin’….. blank face returns to window – can you go to the parking bay please – “No” “What” “No” – person behind beeps, puts head out window yells “Go to the parking bay…” She looks like a nice lady with kids. I can now see the cars encircling the entire McDonalds. Person behind beeps. Blank face at window “If you can go to the parking bay we’ll bring your coffee over.” Why argue, “Okay” – blank face disappears – I don’t move. Nice lady behind beeps and gives me the finger. Blank face appears, coffee appears “Thanks” “Have a good one” “Sorry?” “Have a good one” “What, coffee?” “What?” “What?” “No, have a good one” “Good what” “What” – I drive off this could go on all day – I am now late….
- I drive to the club to se my mates, I am late, but they make me laugh and when I tell them the McDonalds story they will tell me to lighten up and take the piss out of me – a good day!
- The Club is a sty. I have to go into 4WD to get up the track, the trees are so over gown it is like driving through a big green flapping brush carwash, I park randomly like everyone else, I go to the club, it makes a sty look neat, weeds, peeling paint, rubbish, overgrown. They have already started and I miss the first part of the shoot. I get ready and come to the line. Someone says are you grumpy, you look grumpy, did you just drive down. I get ready and go to shoot.
- I step to the line, “Fire” I can’t see the target, I am shooting high – I run out of time and only shoot half by rounds. I go to the target which is mostly blank, I still can’t focus – I am wearing the wrong glasses – I check my gun and I haven’t adjusted the sights.. I don’t write down my score which is not in double digits anyway.
- I pick on the committee members present for the rest of the day about the state of the club, what’s happening in a number of other club matters and generally am grumpy (as identified earlier and denied…) – I am relentless. I feel bad after the shoot and I am sorry and say so to my mates – it is too late. I feel bad.
- I leave early after the shoot (I am just leaving and have a long chat with an older member of the club who is 20 years my senior but I have been mates with for 30 years – he is such a good block – makes me feel bad…) I leave as I was going to stay down and catch up with other mates tonight…. I drive to the Riverland. Even a stop at Bunnings on the way doesn’t help. I ring friends and cancel plans for tonight and apologise – I tell them all the story about my day – I am boring myself after the second phone call. I eat fatty food at the servo on the way. I drive at the speed limit, don’t pass when I can, but just go slower.
- I get home (I have already told my wife about my day) my wife greets me and says lets just have nice night – Frozen is on TV and seeing everyone says it’s so great and we’ve never seen it lets watch it. Great I say!
- We watch it – it is rubbish and even Jo says so. I read, Jo goes to bed and I follow before midnight for once. I just want this day to be over.
Nobody died today, but I am glad it is over. It wasn’t a disastrous day – it was just like the Chiko roll sitting in my guts for 100 km – unpleasant with the feeling of a little bit of sick sitting constantly in the back of your throat.
So my challenge today:
“To enjoy the people around you – take a moment to appreciate their unique talents, abilities and personalities…”
I appreciate one thing and one thing only. That seeing this is not the first time I have 
been a relentless pain in the arse, that these people are still my friends – I am undeservedly grateful for this. Thanks (and sorry again!)
I’m going to watch a video I have referenced at lot again: