Serendipity
It’s been, to say the least, a very stressful couple of months. But I have evidence this week that although life is tossing me some serious challenges, fate is also showing me the way. Fate, she is a quirky mistress, ignore her at your own peril.
A belief in a higher power is nothing if you do not set aside your own will free and ask your higher power to guide you. This, as easy as it sounds, is sometimes the hardest thing in the world to do. Especially for those of us with Type A personalities. We want to run the show, we want to be in control of our lives and our destinies, we want to feel as if whatever we have accomplished we have done on our own.
Feh! Feh, I say to you! Let go and let God. That’s what they say in all sorts of “anonymous” groups. It’s a code for living, and yanno what kids? It works. Or, rather, I should say, it sure seems to be working for me.
I have had, as I have alluded, and even quite loudly bitched about, some financial issues that have arisen as a result of the breakup from the ex. But hey, shit happens, and we move on. Money is money, I can always make more. The question has been, of course, how the hell do I foot the bill for this move with such a limited budget? Add to that the pet situation, the trying to get my kids to Florida for the summer so they can spend time with their father and I can get a much needed break, and let us not forget that little nasty of double rent due in July for the old place and the new place. Oh, yeah, don’t forget that I need a second car, as the one I have is a lease with more miles than time, and only has two seats. Not exactly family friendly.
Phew. One can go crazy trying to manage all of this, and yours truly almost has. I often feel as if I’m trying to shovel sand with my fingers splayed open. I catch a few grains, but mostly it all just lands on my feet. My top priorities have been finding a place, figuring out the move, and dealing with the pets. I put the car and Florida trip on hold until I could get everything else straightened out. I gave that bit up to the Goddess, asked her to take that on for me, because I was too busy taking on the rest.
Serendipity. Finding, stumbling across, something you really need when you are busy looking for something else.
On Tuesday, I attended one of the lovely neighborhood candle parties we’ve had going on recently. A little retail therapy, some munchies, and a few drinks with the other moms, who could ask for anything more? Tuesday was my second party and I’m getting to know the whole Party Lite spiel by heart. I stepped out on the deck in the pouring rain to have a smoke with my hostess’s husband (shut up, I’ll quit later!) and we did the usual awkward small talk when a man has to deal with a house full of his wife’s tipsy martini-laden friends. We discussed the weather, because right about now that’s all anyone in the area talks about. He politely asked me what I did for a living when I talked about my 30 mile commute in the torrential downpour. I politely asked him what he did as I stared out at the rain and thought about what a pain in the ass it was going to be on my way home.
Turns out, Greg is a car salesman. So I explained my situation to him, and my need for a inexpensive second car, because I’m stuck in a lease for awhile. I ask him, rather sheepishly, if he can help me out. I hate asking people for help, and I certainly hate taking advantage of my neighbors. Especially when I’m only now meeting them (please don’t ask me why I haven’t met anyone at all in the year since I moved here.) Greg very nicely talks to me about my credit, my needs, what he can probably do. Then he asks me a question I’m completely not prepared for: “Do you have to keep the Z?”
*blink*
I explain, again, thinking maybe he had too many martinis, that it’s a newish lease, over the mileage, I’m more or less stuck until I can park it for a couple of months to catch up, or do an early termination next year. I sigh, light up another cigarette, and stare blankly at the sky.
“Who told you that? We can buy your lease.”"
*BLINK*
“What? I was told that was a no go.”
“No, we can buy your lease. How badly do you want to keep the car?”
A long discussion later, and I have an appointment to go talk with him tomorrow morning. Who knows what will happen. Maybe I’ll have too much negative equity to get out of the lease, but you know, I asked Her to point me in the right direction, and she did.
So, one thing, you say to yourself, not so much serendipity, maybe just coincidence.
If it were just one thing, my friend, you’d be right. Lucky for me, it’s not.
I was talking with my therapist tonight (yes, I see a therapist, shut up! we could all use one) and was relaying to her my overall frustration with everything and how overwhelmed I’m feeling. I need a break, and I need a break yesterday! Gothboy let us both know in no uncertain terms that he’s pretty pissed about Florida being put on a back burner. I told her my financial woes, from beginning to end, and she smiled at me and said, “How much did you say flights were going to run you?”
“Last I checked, about $300 for both of them, and that’s on budget airlines,” I mumbled. And her smile got even wider.
“You know, we’ve been over billing you. I think I may have mentioned last time that I probably owed you some money.”
Uh huh.
“Okay, let me add this up, hold on,” *insert dramatic pause here* “Looks like I owe you $340. I don’t happen to have my office checkbook here at work today, will you take a personal check?”
*BLINK*BLINK*BLINK*
My life has always been a series of threes, I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds! She has given me guidance, what I do from here is up to me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have flights to book 