Learning to Drive: Lesson: Stranded Motorists


2/20/18

I know that every journey begins with a single step.  I've begun my journey of learning to drive, beginning to steer and power my own life with confidence. I'm proud of my tentative first steps.  I've taken control of my personal finances and am working on joint finances, well, jointly.  I've taken a hard look at my professional calendar, filling it with as many paying gigs as possible and also exploring new streams of income in areas where I find passion and joy. I've committed to saving that first down payment on a 200 hour yoga certification; in a discipline in which I believe I will thrive. I'm even looking at a meditation training course. And I've also planned some amazing adventures to feed my gypsy adventurer's soul.

But there's that one little overlooked thing...the one that visits in the wee small hours of the morning.  Loneliness.  I know, I have the MOST amazing friends and family in the universe, but,,still,,darkness falls.  Most times, a good book, a silly movie, a hot bath, a glass of wine, a favorite LP (Look it up kids.) help to pass the late nights; and I'm a freelance musician, this means primarily working nights. I'm busy and I'm blessed. I know.  Still, I've lost something, and so there is the space where that something was.  Noticing the words "I" and "me" a lot? Yeah, well...

What was revving up to be one HECK of a Texas sized pity party the other night, changed tracks suddenly. What it became was a lesson. A driving lesson I won't be forgetting soon.  It involves that word that keeps popping up in my life, "service",  and a stranded motorist;  in the form of a dear woman, and sweet friend and fellow singer. She lives out of state and was flying to a gig of her own, through DFW airport.  One thing led to another and she ended up missing her connecting flight, leaving her stranded at DFW until early the next morning.  Thank the stars she called me.  Thank the stars I was just pulling into my garage; hadn't even turned the car off and was already working up a good wallow.  Her bright, beautiful voice shifted everything for me.  I turned off the ugly voice in my head and turned on the light of friendship. Friendship for me to GIVE instead of merely accept; something I've been doing a lot of lately.  She'll never know how that quick turn-around night of picking her up (at the illusive Terminal A) taking her to my home, talking and catching up over wine late into the night, and getting her safely back to DFW the next morning (after ridiculously little sleep) was a valuable and treasured lesson to me.  We're all going through our own journeys: struggles and  triumphs intermingling throughout. It's wonderful to feel the love of support, companionship, friendship surrounding you in the best of times and even more so in the worst.  But I overlooked something precious for a while and now it's back in my headlights, full brights on.  I can offer the love and support and companionship right back to all of those so dear to me that need it just as badly as I.  I can back up these lovely words with actions.  I can bake cookies for a broken hearted friend. (Best served warm and with wine.) I can cook a meal for a sick friend. I can call and be an ear for someone needing a friendly ear and a strong shoulder.  I can reach out first to those in need instead of waiting to be sought out myself.  And I can definitely drive a dear friend to the airport in the dark of morning.

Learning to drive isn't just about me and my little vehicle of existence.  It's looking outside and around and ahead and behind.  It's about noticing the stranded motorist and doing what I can to help.  We're all stranded at one time or another; may I never be the one who just passes blindly by a fellow driver in need.

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