The Emotions of a Crazy Woman (or Things Happen For a Specific Purpose)

This blog post is a little different than most of my posts. I am going to walk you through a series of emotions that I held within a very short few minutes while going through a drive-thru on my way to work. Beware the crazy (or totally sane) rantings that follow....

On Wednesday, on my way to work, I stopped at McDonald's for an iced tea (my usual) and a Coke (to keep my headache at bay). I was not ordering food or anything else and usually, this McDonald's is pretty empty and it is always an easy in and easy out drive-thru. This day, however, there were so many people in line. So. Many. The line was snaking around the parking lot. So, I sat patiently, waiting for the Yukon in front of me to move into one of the line lanes, so that could I go into the other lane (this McDonald's has those double-lanes). The Yukon was being cautious and leaving room because there were other people coming off of 35th Avenue that needed into the paring lot or to get through to Bethany Home Road. Finally, the Yukon goes and, lickety split, bam, just like that, a big, white Ford comes off of 35th Avenue, sees me waiting to enter, and whips in front of me to go first in the lane I was literally turning into.

Here is where you get to hear my internal monologue.

Please do not think I am crazy.

So, initially, I figure, man he did not see me. He was just driving along and thought it was his turn because he just got there. Then I think, surely he will realize he cut me (and the HUGE line of people behind me) off and he will apologize. I am sure of it. He will see, and he will wave, and all will be forgiven. Well, the people behind me might not forgive him, but I will.

No, that does not happen, so as we inch up to order, I think, aha, he is going to pay for my order because he feels so badly about cutting me off. Alas, that was also a pipe dream. Apparently, I am way more optimistic and kinder than most people. I also tend to give others the benefit of the doubt a little too much.

Then I think, I should pay for HIS food, kind of just show my gratitude for life and for all types of people- even the mean and oblivious ones. But no, I think better of it, because it might actually make him mad, and I do not want to do that. I mean we are in close proximity of each other and that just would not be good.

So, I just sit there, alternating between being mad he cut off so many people (it is not really about me at this point, although it started out being all about me), and being grateful that I have all that I do, and thinking I am just being dumb and should not waste my time thinking about this.

I pull up and pay for my drinks and make some small talk with the girl who works there, who I see a couple times a week. Then I pull up to the next window and get my drinks.

And the attendant at that window says, "We have an extra Coke. Do you want it?" At first I think there is no need for an extra Coke. I do not have the hands for three drinks and my computer and my purse and walking into a secure building that requires a key card. So, as I am hesitating to respond, she hands it to me anyway and I thank her. In my mind, the man in front of me has paid for a Coke for me. I know that is not true, but allow me my alternate reality please.

As I am pulling out of the McDonald's and heading east on Bethany, there is a homeless man there, with a sign. I roll my window down and ask him, "Would you like a soda?" And he does want it, so I hand it to him and he tells me, "God bless you."

And just like that, my day went from annoyance, mild irritation, and wonder at the cluelessness of people, to a vast appreciation for everything in this world; everything I am blessed to have that others are not; every small kindness; and the belief that all people are inherently good. Things happen for a reason. The man ahead of me cut me off so I could be in the position to have the free soda. The free soda in my hands helped someone in need. It was all as it was meant to happen.

I put on my gratitude glasses the rest of the day and those gratitude glasses made my day rock.

When have you ever had a moment like this where you felt things unfolded for a specific purpose? How did that make you feel?