I called my dad for Father's Day yesterday and we had a nice chat. If anyone has the "right" to complain, I suspect it'd be him. On Friday he was released from the hospital after his third round of chemo treatment and he has been feeling gross ever since. But although he has every right to complain, he doesn't. I find it admirable, yet confusing. So, to make up for his excellent attitude, I indulged in my own pity party:
"Dad, you would not believe how cruddy my week was: you're in the hospital, Grandma just suffered a stroke, my apartment is stinking hot, I'm on my last pair of contacts, I broke a filling in my tooth, I drowned my plant, a guy rolled over my big toe with a heavy cart, I got my student loan bill, my car was hit, I stained my favorite shirt, I had a piece of black pepper in my teeth, I lost an art contest at work ... and you want to know the final straw!?"
I paused for a dramatic effect. Dad listened intently on the other end.
"I killed a squirrel!"
The phone crackled.
"You killed a what?"
"A squirrel! I was driving down the highway and saw a squirrel playing on the side of the road and right as I drove past he darted out in front of me and thud-thudded under my car!" My voice got louder and louder as I continued the anecdote: "I looked in the rear-view mirror to see him spinning on his back!!!"
I thought I heard him chuckle. Then he responded in a serious tone:
"Well, you know what that means, right Lauralee?"
"No,... what?" I choked/sobbed.
"Compared to that squirrel, you don't have any problems!"
And I laughed. A loud, stress-freeing, snorting, signature "Lauralee Laugh". And it was goooood. Thank you, Dad. I continue to admire you.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
At the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Canada is, according to the Indiana BMV, a state?
Yup. I just got back from trying to obtain an Indiana driver’s license.
“Is Canada one of the 50 states?” my case worker asked her co-worker.
“I don’t think so… or, is it?”
They turned to me and asked again.
“Is Canada one of the 50 states?”
Without smiling, laughing (or screaming), I replied with a gentle, yet firm, “No.”
“Then how do you have a driver’s license and American passport? …And a social security number?”
“I’m an American.”
Immediately my mind turned to how I could write this into a creative blog. What would it be titled?
Canada: the Largest State
Americans and Canadians Unite in Indiana
The Fifty-First State
I wish now I had said that Canada was a state. “Yes, as a matter of fact it is the 54th state: after Sweden, China and Russia. Oh, and would you like Australia as well?” Too bad I didn’t think of it earlier. If I had, I’d be holding an Indiana’s driver’s license.
And why don’t I possess one yet? Since Canada isn’t a state, I’m from “out of country” and will need to take a written and driving test. Luckily I passed the first.
And then they were going to give me a learner's permit for 60 days before I would be eligible for a license. No joke.
"Aren't there rules about that? Like when or with whom I can drive?" I asked.
"Well, you would just have to drive with someone who already has an Indiana driver's license."
"I live alone."
"I could issue you the learner's and then if you're stopped you could try to explain it to the officer."
"You're kidding me, right?"
"Since you're from "out of country", it's the only way it will work."
"But I'm from Canada."
I figured it was no use. I asked if there was someone else she could ask.
First manager:
"Nope, that's the only way it will work. Learner's permit and then a driving test."
I asked for another opinion.
Second manager:
"Ahhh, nooooo. Oh wait! You'd only need to hold the permit for 30 days and then you could get the license!"
I shook my head. At least I was getting closer!
And Third manager:
"I am so sorry. I apologize. I am so sorry about that. Of course you can get a license! All you'll need to do is take a driving test and then you can get your license. I am so sorry!Really. I am so sorry about that!"
I thanked her and shook my head as I left. I'm glad everyone is on the same page. Now hopefully my Canadian car doesn’t pose too many problems for the driving test. Thanks, Indiana BMV.
Yup. I just got back from trying to obtain an Indiana driver’s license.
“Is Canada one of the 50 states?” my case worker asked her co-worker.
“I don’t think so… or, is it?”
They turned to me and asked again.
“Is Canada one of the 50 states?”
Without smiling, laughing (or screaming), I replied with a gentle, yet firm, “No.”
“Then how do you have a driver’s license and American passport? …And a social security number?”
“I’m an American.”
Immediately my mind turned to how I could write this into a creative blog. What would it be titled?
Canada: the Largest State
Americans and Canadians Unite in Indiana
The Fifty-First State
I wish now I had said that Canada was a state. “Yes, as a matter of fact it is the 54th state: after Sweden, China and Russia. Oh, and would you like Australia as well?” Too bad I didn’t think of it earlier. If I had, I’d be holding an Indiana’s driver’s license.
And why don’t I possess one yet? Since Canada isn’t a state, I’m from “out of country” and will need to take a written and driving test. Luckily I passed the first.
And then they were going to give me a learner's permit for 60 days before I would be eligible for a license. No joke.
"Aren't there rules about that? Like when or with whom I can drive?" I asked.
"Well, you would just have to drive with someone who already has an Indiana driver's license."
"I live alone."
"I could issue you the learner's and then if you're stopped you could try to explain it to the officer."
"You're kidding me, right?"
"Since you're from "out of country", it's the only way it will work."
"But I'm from Canada."
I figured it was no use. I asked if there was someone else she could ask.
First manager:
"Nope, that's the only way it will work. Learner's permit and then a driving test."
I asked for another opinion.
Second manager:
"Ahhh, nooooo. Oh wait! You'd only need to hold the permit for 30 days and then you could get the license!"
I shook my head. At least I was getting closer!
And Third manager:
"I am so sorry. I apologize. I am so sorry about that. Of course you can get a license! All you'll need to do is take a driving test and then you can get your license. I am so sorry!Really. I am so sorry about that!"
I thanked her and shook my head as I left. I'm glad everyone is on the same page. Now hopefully my Canadian car doesn’t pose too many problems for the driving test. Thanks, Indiana BMV.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
This Crazy Life
I've been wanting to write something for quite some time and have been trying (without much success) to come up with an ordinary situation to make it a hilarious blog through my unique perspective.
As I've been contemplating all that's going on, only one thing came to mind: Q&A #1. I thought about revising it and here's a rough sketch:
Q. What is your sole comfort while living and in dying as a follower of Christ?
A. That I am nothing without Christ. I belong soley to Him who loved me so much, that He died to save me. I also know that because He is faithful, these crazy life happenings are His purpose for me. I am assured of eternal life because of His death on the cross, and have been equipped through His Spirit to serve Him even when life doesn't make sense. Nothing can happen to me without the knowledge of my saviour. My comfort lies in Christ and I belong to Him.
As I've been contemplating all that's going on, only one thing came to mind: Q&A #1. I thought about revising it and here's a rough sketch:
Q. What is your sole comfort while living and in dying as a follower of Christ?
A. That I am nothing without Christ. I belong soley to Him who loved me so much, that He died to save me. I also know that because He is faithful, these crazy life happenings are His purpose for me. I am assured of eternal life because of His death on the cross, and have been equipped through His Spirit to serve Him even when life doesn't make sense. Nothing can happen to me without the knowledge of my saviour. My comfort lies in Christ and I belong to Him.
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