It never ceases to amaze me how life is actually very neutral to all of us. You can have a bad day or a good day. It can be a bad day in the early portion of the day and a wonderful day toward sunset.
I also observe how life can be fair and you feel blessed at times, and at other times the black cloud lingers over your head and you feel snake bit or cursed.
A recent trip as a Realtor to the local run down self serve spray Car Wash showed sometimes how life is unfair. It was the bill changer this time. I usually don't carry all the coins for these places so inserted a dollar bill expecting what? Four quarters to operate the machine. I was returned two quarters. My conclusions? I want to own a car wash. That is a 100% return on the owner's investment giving out 50 cents and making $1.00. All in all, that is life. Some people have crutches, some are Hugh Hefner. Some live lives of struggle, others live lives of ease. But we all I am convinced get our share of glory and struggle along the way.
The key in all our situations in life is how we "react" to everything. Which I will leave you with a Texas local weather favorite. This one comes from Sandridge Energy, south of Ft. Stockton in west Texas.
When the lightning flashes, this is NOT what you want to see. Remember, in general LIFE IS GOOD!!
Incredible words...that picture looks like something in Northeast Oklahoma last week...
The wrath of Mother Nature captured on film. That's a powerful photo and post!
Reminds me of the time I was glad my flight was grounded at DFW.
Gary,
Another great 'thought provoking' post!!! Thanks, Fran
Great pic. I have been near these bad boys numerous times. Good thought in your blog
That picture gives me the chills.
Great post and I know just what you mean. I have always thought a car wash would be a great investment. Around here they line up like they are giving something away. It all works out someday.
Just wondering, Gary, whether you hurt your foot or your arm when you punched whatever took your money at the car wash! I get so mad at machines that steal money.
Worked in a car wash through college. Got my foot stuck in the trap, the hole swallowed me up. Thank God for steel toe work boots and, well, God!
I am thankful that I have never seen a real tornado in person. The pictures are scary enough. You made some excellent points here, Gary. Life is not easy, but it's the only one we are given here on Earth.
Gary, Totally agree with what you say, but I like to change one work. Instead of reacting, I think it's better for us to take action.
It's hard to take that moment to pause, to make a decision how to react. Sometimes, that pause is all you need to get by, and maybe even laugh.
Kelly: Yes, Oklahoma had some really bad twisters lately.
Norma: A scary site.
Anthon: There are times when you don't want to be out flying around.
Fran: There I go trying to think again : )
William: I always wanted to be a storm chaser. If it was this close, I don't know if I would.
Karen: I think the car wash deal is a low investment. Maybe a side business some day.
Barbara: It does tick you off when a machine rips you off and you have no one to complain to.
Andrew: You were lucky with the steel toe boots.
Jason: Yep, life's not easy, but it is not easy for any of us it seems at times.
Marc: You are right being proactive is the way to go. We need to have a good attitude along the way.
Elaine: Great point about the pause to think before choosing what you do about something.
Gary - My reaction? I'd probably have to shrug at loosing the 50 cents too. Hopefully, you got your car washed and it didn't rain soon after! Now that would have been a double whammy!
Gary, We do all get some of the "good" -- and some of the "bad." How we react and our attitude is very important at all times. You made a great point with this post.
That was a real jolt!
Gary..You have good days and then we have ....days to go to the car wash...nice post again...Cya
Nyles: If I saw that coming with the bright flash of lightning I think I would come up with a few choice four letter words before panicking! : )
Mike: I know many in this forum have kicked a vending machine or two in their life.
Speaking of car washes.....I know this isn't the moral of the story - but I went through the car wash on the way to a wedding yesterday - and forgot to roll up the rear window........the presents were tin the back set......may hair was all done up and up.........I was busy doing my nails.......you know 4 free minutes in a car wash? .............and then woooooooooosh it was like a tidal wave hit me in the back.....soggy presents........nailpolish on the ceiling of my car roof ....and shockingly????
I laughed.......and laughed..........and laughed.....
Moral>>>nothing terribly exciting - other then make sure your windows are rolled up! smile
Liz: That is too funny. You sound like you live my life. I knew a guy who had one of those ham radio antennas on the roof of his car going into a car wash and the thing got stripped off and kept banging his door with it as he was getting the car washed. I told him he needed an idiot alert button in his car.
We have a new carwash in town. One of those where you put your money in and put the car in neutral and let it go through the wash. I tried and tried to use my AMEX (which it said it accepted) but it wouldn't take it. Then I put the debit card in and away we went. This is really the weirdest feeling because you have no control while you are inside the carwash.
I love the story about your window being down, Liz
Gary: I love your optimism. Wish more people could be like you!
Becky: Machines I think have minds of their own. Windows rolled down going into car washes - not a smart move! : )
Chris Ann: I try to be sunny when the turbulence settles in. Makes the ride easier.
Whenever a machine short changes me I try to remember all the times a generous machine served me extra. All in all, I think machine treatment of me balances out.
Rosario: Good point on a machine giving you too much money back or a free item.
Gary: Idiot alert! I need one of those - i guess the light would turn red when I was the 'idiot' and 'green' when there was one on my radar screen? smile
And thanks...Becky? You could relate? :-)
Just for your information - although the lightning next to the tornado funnel is real, the rest of the photo isn't. The oil rig was digitally added. The tornado was in Florida, not Texas. The photo was taken in 2001.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/sedalia.asp has the rest of the story on this.