An interesting thing happened to me today in London, Canada. I was traveling on business and making a sales call in the downtown area. Typical of populated areas, I had to park several blocks from the actual address. I paralleled parked, doubled checked the locked doors and began the journey on foot to the intended destination. I was about two blocks away when I unconsciously felt for my money clip that always sits snug in my right front pocket. My money clip is my mobile financial lifeline, especially when traveling on business. It holds all my cash, credit cards and identification. Losing it would be a catastrophe.
Well, as luck would have it, it was absent from my right pocket. My heart skipped a beat as I feverishly checked all my other pockets; it was nowhere. My first intuition was that it must be in the car – maybe it fell out of my pocket and slid between the seat and center console? Worse, I dropped it on the sidewalk. This could be bad… I briskly rushed several blocks back to my car. I did not see it anywhere on the sidewalk, but with all the people walking back in forth it would be gone for sure. I reached the car and feverishly opened the passenger door which was facing the sidewalk and began searching the seats and surrounding area; nothing. This is NOT good: I could be stranded in a foreign country with no money or I.D. I walked on the traffic side which was a little unnerving as cars were passing closely by. I opened the driver’s side door as fast moving vehicles blurred by in the corner of my eye. …Nothing!
Then I glanced down on the ground where I originally exited the vehicle. There on the street in a disheveled heap, my money, credit cards and I.D. When it fell, the silver clip must have popped off with the cards and cash jettisoning into a complimentary bonanza on the asphalt. What was astounding is that the wind didn’t even blow the money away! Yep, there it sat, unmolested and all relatively in order. I quickly grabbed the contents and regrouped over on the sidewalk.
What a relief… What luck! I immediately looked up to the sky to thank the dynamism in control of this windfall. My eyes were immediately lured to a large tree shading my car. The sun glistened through its wind rustled leaves. A feeling of warmth and bliss enveloped my body and mind. There was a karmic energy quality present – a gift I suppose. I took a deep breath, exhaled and felt the like the luckiest guy in London.
Huh, and I thought picking the Bears to beat the Falcons this weekend in the office pool was pure luck…
I am grateful, blessed and reverent. Thank you….
John C. Bader
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So.. You got scared… what a nice chance to really loose it All 🙂
Hans, I would not call it scared as the intimate emotional quality, but deeply anxious about the inconvenience that was about to befall me – thanks for the comment, I appreciate it! JCB
but, I guess that is your point right? lol
Once a ship was in a raging storm. Among the passengers was a quiet monk. The storm intensified, and the ship was shattered. In the chaos and mayhem, of screaming people and devastating fear, the few survivors clung to the floating pieces of wreckage, and among these were the monk, and the captain of the ship… He noticed the monk was smiling and laughing, and was very very puzzled about this. They were later rescued by a small fishingboat, and finally at rest, the Captain couldnt bond his curiosity any longer, and asked the monk: “Where you not afraid to die? Did all of your years of meditation help you in a horrible time like this to prepare and meet with your maker?” The monk looked at him quietly, smiling, chuckling : “I am afraid not… I have been closer to death at home, safely meditating in the temple…”
well, in other words: when shit hits the fan, we are faced with the devastating truth about who and what we are. I find it deeply fascinating how measuring oneself against comfort, hope, longings, etc. hell even against the absence of basic needs like shelter and food, we are always going to be conducting a measure of illusions.
I Love your story. I love the potential of a whole other ragingly wild and impossibly funny story, that kinda lies hidden in the first one. A story where you DIDNT find you stuff back again, and you DIDNT were able to get into your car, but all of a sudden were at the mercy of wild and obscene native canadians 🙂 I can only Imagine the rituals they would have executed, after finally rounded you up in some wild, abandoned neighborhood, showering you with friendliness and local, ravishing exuberance !! 🙂 ha ha ! Maybe from now on, you make sure to wear rubber shoes next time you plan on going to Canada 🙂
Ha! Absolutely…. Thanks!