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One of my uncles posted a thing on Facebook a couple weeks ago, it said something like, 'People never remember the million times you've helped them, only the one time you don't.'
I told him that wasn't true. I remember all the help I've gotten to get me where I am today. Especially the help I never even asked for...
I've told a few stories already on this blog about how amazing people can be. NO ONE gets where they are by themselves.
When I went to pay for gas that one time with $.85 in change, and the lady in line behind me was horrified and put an extra $5 in my tank...I'll never forget that.
When I was forced up onto a curb and had a blowout right in front of Churchill Downs and a real-life jockey, strongly smelling of horse, came to my rescue...I'll never forget that.
When I had a meltdown at my desk a few years back, dissolved in tears, and no one knew what to do with me... I didn't know the lady who took me in her arms and kept murmuring, "Peace...peace...," until I calmed down...but I'll never forget her.
I'm terrible at interviews. Take my inability to look people in the eye, plus crippling shyness and terrible awkwardness...and that would explain it. But somehow I have a pretty good job that I actually like.
I will take responsibility for some of it...I did work hard to get my degree, even though it has nothing at all do with my job. Philosophy and accounting are about as far apart as you can get. HAHAHAHA...
But the main reason I am where I am today is because people have helped me along the way. I have failed a dozen interviews...but all of the jobs I have actually gotten have been because I knew somebody, and they knew I needed a job, and they recommended me to someone else.
Just little things, but vitally important to me. I remember them all. I wouldn't be here without them.
Did I mention I'm seeing a new neurologist? This is my third one and I'm really hoping she'll be The One.
On my first appointment, the doctor gave me SIX new prescriptions, told me to throw out my Excedrin Migraine and Advil, and no more peanut butter. At all.
That's right, I said NO MORE PEANUT BUTTER.
Since then, I've also had to cut out chocolate, cut out any kind of nut or nut product altogether, cut down Diet Pepsi to two a day, and increase water to at least four bottles a day, but eight would be better.
But who cares, my mind got stuck on no peanut butter and I still haven't recovered.
If one could have a food religion, mine would be peanut butter. JIF Crunchy Peanut Butter, to be exact.
I had at least three jars of it stashed in my room for emergencies. A couple of days after the doctor's verdict, I was tearing through the kitchen in the middle of the night. Cabinets opening and closing, pots rattling, you name it...and in walks Chelsea.
"Mommy...what are you doing?"
"I KNOW there's some peanut butter in here! WHERE IS IT?!"
Poor Chelsea. I wonder what it's like to have a crazy mother?
"Mommy, I got rid of all the peanut butter. I know you have no self control. It's all gone."
(sob) "I don't believe youuuuuuuu."
So yeah...she somehow found all the peanut butter and got rid of it. Including all the jars I'd hidden away in my room.
I'm very unhappy about this dietary change.
Anyway, second appointment with the doctor this week, she wrote me MORE prescriptions, AND she took over my Vicodin RX from my primary care doctor. Which meant I had to sign a contract stating I won't sell my pills on the backside of Churchill Downs anymore.
Bummer...my new doctor is taking away all my favorite things.
But really, let's hope my migraines get better, because if I don't show improvement by next appointment, she's going to discuss BOTOX with me.
They use botox to treat migraines now.
Not on me, I don't think. Injecting toxin right into my brain? I'm already kind of...you know... It's just not a good idea.
So I'm following all the rules.
But I really, really miss Reese's Cups.
My alerts aren't working again...bummer...
I called D today from work to ask his opinion on how I should drive home from work, since Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs (big horse race the day before the Derby, just as crowded but more fun, kind of like the Golden Globes compared to the Oscars...) was going to cause all my feasible exits to be blocked on the expressway...
When I got him on the phone, he told me that:
1. He had talked to my brother today and I needed to call him later, to talk about Mother's Day stuff...
2. He had talked to my mom today and she wants us to set up a tent in her backyard for her Derby party tomorrow...
and
3. He had talked to my daughter today and she was at Kentucky Kingdom with her friend...
OKAY...LOL!...whose family is it again? Mine? His? It is mine, right?
They like him SO much better than they like me...
I had to go to an Easter egg hunt at 10 this (Saturday) morning. I'm rushing, rushing, run out to my car, tear down the street, around the corner, up the street, and...stop.
The road is blocked by some kind of race. I go around a different way and it's blocked there too. I manage to make a huge backwards square in a way that's not blocked and finally get to where I'm going.
This happens to me every year, and signals the advent of DERBY TIME.
I live in Louisville, KY, home of the Kentucky Derby. While most people know about this horse race, most people probably don't know that this city throws a huge three-week party up to the start of the Derby, consisting of festivals, chow wagons, walks, runs, a balloon race, and a huge fireworks display. There is also no school on the day before the Derby (Derby Eve). The Derby is the big thing here.
I really love this city, it's beautiful. I didn't always live here, because I was an Army brat and moved around on the average of every 1 to 3 years growing up, in the US and in Germany. I was very thankful to settle back down here when I was almost 13 and I've been here ever since. I've lived in other beautiful places, cities with castles and 1000-year histories, but there's really no place like home.
However, for three weeks every year at this time, I'm kind of slightly frustrated being here, when I deal with the inconvenience of living in the South End of Louisville, where Churchill Downs happens to be, and the roads are closed down ALL THE TIME.
When I was working nights a few years ago, I got off early one morning and actually had to leave my car parked a mile and a half away, and walk home. Culprit: the mini-marathon. And I don't even want to talk about OAKS day, when for the past two years my exit off the expressway on my way home from work has been blocked, and backtracking my way home has taken an extra hour.
And I guess I'll stop complaining, because I wouldn't trade the inconvenience for anything... since along with it comes the excitement of being in the middle of something really great!
This city wouldn't be as charming without all the Derby craziness. It's springtime, and the trees and flowers are blooming, the drabness of winter is being painted over with greens and pinks and purples, and my city prepares to put its best face forward to the world who watches us for two minutes every year.
And there's lots of helicopters.
