In the beginning...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and so it goes in the life of your “filcted friend.” I hope you will enjoy the first volume, first issue of this ground breaking, journalism experience. As you are all aware, my life has gone through some crazy changes in the past little while. Most of you have been privy to parts of the craziness, and thank goodness some of you have been there through the “thick and thin” of it all.

I thought a long time about how I could give back to all the great people in my life and this is what I have come up with – a weekly reflection upon the craziness of this existence – packed with experiences that can’t help but make you laugh. (Well, at least I hope they will make you laugh because they make me laugh!)

I feel that the Lord has blessed me with many different talents and one of them is the ability to stumble, if you will, into a variety of life experiences that are just amusing and sometimes completely hilarious.
I hope that you all will enjoy reading about my amusing adventures while remembering how good this life really is. Because if you can’t laugh at yourself, then laugh at me!

I started a new job this week. All of us have had that experience – the first day jitters, the crisis of what to wear, the butterflies in your stomach as you approach the office and the list goes on and on. On Thursday, I was feeling all of those things and wanting more than anything to make the best impression.

Traffic was bad on 40 and I was sweating being late on my very first day. But, to my relief, as I neared the office, the clock said 7:25 AM. I was actually going to be 5 minutes early. I pulled through the intersection and past the first parking lot and as I did, I noticed the cop in the first parking lot pull out behind me and proceed to turn on his lights. Was he serious? Had I broken the law? I wasn’t speeding (really!). I pulled into my parking spot and he followed me, lights on, siren blaring.

All I could think was that at any moment, my new boss was going to arrive and find me there, at the office, police lights and all, on my very first day. I jumped out of the car, much to the officer’s surprise and he approached me with caution. He asked, ‘Do you realize what you just did?” In my mind, all I could think was, “Are you kidding?" Doesn’t the clueless look on my face give that away?” But thank goodness I kept my thoughts to myself. I said, “no,” and then launched into my life story about how this was my first day at my new job and that I had never driven this way before and that my boss was going to be there any minute and on and on.

After my saga, he instructed me that during the hours of 7-9 AM, motorists in the right hand lane at that intersection must turn right. I immediately started my saga again and he abruptly interrupted me and asked for my license and registration. He went to his car and returned moments later to me, a third time, telling my saga. I think at this point, the look of stern cop turned to pity on a poor silly girl and he decided to give me a warning citation. He left just as my boss was pulling in. Whew – what a way to start my fist day of work! As always, what a blessing as well.