Learning to Drive: Lesson: The Owner's Manual












3/25/18



Listen....do you hear that? It's a deep chuckling sound in the air. That would be my dad, for two reasons.  One, it's baseball season; better than Christmas morning to my father.  And two, because he is finally vindicated.  Let me explain, I used to tease my father mercilessly about one specific thing.  He would read owner's manuals.  Not just for major purchases either, we'd buy a toaster or a hair dryer and dad would sit and read the owner's manual.  I have NEVER read an owner's manual in my entire life, which is probably why my Prius blares ACDC whenever I turn the car on, even when the stereo was off....

Anyway, this last week has been terrifying, hysterical, emotional; primarily for one consistent reason...GOOGLE.  I mentioned signing up for a 200 hour yoga certification class, and I did so. And I think it's a perfect fit, the teacher is amazing and I've already resonated with so much of their teaching. But, in order to keep the music gigs, I had to select a mostly "online" program that simply requires regular live human interaction, while a lot of coursework is done ONLINE.  Yes, the dreaded world of computers and technology has come to back to roost, on my yoga mat.  So yes, that explains why you saw that sobbing woman with mascara running down her cheeks at any number of Starbucks over the last several days. I have been brought down,,by GOOGLE.  

I have a number of wonderful friends and an amazing daughter who offered to help,,.even the new yogi ladies and my wonderful instructor were kind in their helpfulness, but no one truly understands the depth of my cluelessness...except possibly my dad.  He's got a bird's eye view from the heavens to see his mule-stubborn daughter who's REFUSED to get involved in anything technological since the invention of Pac Man...(And no, I've never played,,,go ahead and yell. My friend Jonathan just wiped the floor with me in my first ever game of FROGGER just over a week ago.  Poor frog..) But, back to GOOGLE.  I realized, through my swollen, over-caffeinated eyes, that I have spent the better part of my life avoiding things I find intimidating.  I would then write it off as "unenlightened" or not for a bohemian like me. Then to get anything done, I had to bat my eyes, flip my hair and rely on the "kindness of strangers". (Streetcar, seriously, the best play ever.) I would walk right by all of those owner's manuals lying in my path and lead a shallower version of an independent life.  This is a pretty humbling realization at age 45. 

In the midst of all of this panic and confusion, I did thankfully breathe and remember what all of this was about,,YOGA.  So, I calmed down, talked to my teacher about taking the slow track instead of fast tracking, and I asked for help. EVERYWHERE.  And guess what? I got it. From everyone I asked.  And my first week's homework, due by 11:59 Saturday, was on time, in a GOOGLE format, folder, shared thingy,,,
I did it! Not alone, no,,but since when do I have to be alone in this wonderful huge world of people?  And who says it's not ok to ask for help?  And now, I have a year. To grow as a yogi, and just as importantly, to READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL.  And then, I'll put it down.  Because that's what dad would do.  And then he'd sing a silly song, or dream a big dream, or chase a cloud, or watch a baseball game.  So, since I, the apple, did not fall far from that tree, that's what I'll do.  I'm going to be just fine.  I may even figure out how to operate the stereo on my Prius, or just develop a deeper love of ACDC.  And opening day is just around the corner,,,Go Rangers. 
Thanks dad, play ball. 💙⚾

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