Yesterday, Brandon and I decided to make a booze run because we are finished with this semester after today. I'm not sure if this is true, but I believed that ABC stores were closed on sunday so we went to Walmart instead to get some tasty beer. Walmart delivered unto us three very unique personalities. You, fond reader, will only learn of two.
Story #1) A relatively short woman with a stain on her left incisor in the shape of a walrus who will henceforth be known as "Midge." Midge approached us and in a breathy but matter of fact tone said, "Hey kids, do you have a phone I could borrow?" After the initial bafflement of being called "kids" even though we were clearly in the beer section, we sort of glanced at each other and shrugged a hesitant yes. " Wait, I dont know if I have the number." As we waited, and she sifted through her pockets for the number, she asked us "Hey, are you going to the liqour store?" (Immediate thought: What? can't you buy your own booze Midge? you just called us kids, so why would you ever assume that we would even be able to buy you alcohol. DUMB) I then realized she was probably asking for directions and the joke was on me... Fuck. Anyway, she made her call and left. Brandon and I went back to the entrance to get a cart and there was Midge, sort of grunting inconspicuously at us as if to say, "Ugh, now I'm obliged to say hello."
Story #2) We get our cart, and make out way back to the beer section. Upon our arrival we decide instead of buying beer, we'll just buy EVERY 40oz Hurricane they have. so 11. The entire shelf of Hurricanes, gone. Anyway, an old woman watched us carefully,(Immediate thought: crap-ola this old woman thinks we're drunkards... judgement!!) But alas,instead we were greeted with " Oh hey! That stuff must be good!"
" No, Just cheap," We retorted.
"Oh, well I hope I get invited to the party," she said....Hold on... This in itself is awesome, not only was her judgement a positive one, but she was also trying to hang out with us!.. YES!
Anyway, we get to talking to her, and she ends up giving us a business card. She was Mark Warners Campaign advisor, or something like that. AND she is going to help us find awesome things in Europe!!!! She is writing a book called, "Don't Pass a Bathroom Without Using It" She described why that was the title and what it meant. It made me think alot about spontaneity. If I hadn't decided to drive Brandon and I to ABC, we would never have ended up meeting this woman, talking to her, and receiving her business card. It just wouldnt have happened... At least not yesterday. I just made a choice. Followed through on an action, and let it lead me where it did. It was an adventure.
This leads me back to our quote,"For as soon as we have used an opportunity and have actualized a potential meaning, we have done so once and for all. We have rescued it into the past wherein it has been safely delivered and deposited."- Viktor Frankl- Man's Search for Meaning
I am becoming a fervent believer that any action is better than no action. When I look back on my life so far, I tend to regret the things I didn't do, more than the things I did. I regret the times where I was afraid to make a decision, or didn't stand up for myself, much more than staying up until 4 am on various nights just to hang out, or to go on an adventure; even though I had a big test the next day or surgery, or something. (I had two cheeseburgers the morning of my wisdom teeth removal. I was unaware that this choice would mean that I would have to get them removed with local anesthetic instead of silly gas. It was scary but awesome; and I was a champion.) Because at the end of my life the big test won't matter at all; and those times when I went on an adventure, or hung out with my friends, will prove to be far more valuable. They already are.
Until thursday,
Josh
No comments:
Post a Comment