Concord, CA: Tonight, my favorite Auntie and Godmother, Paula (otherwise known to her grandchildren and other children as Dooey), had a celebration party for her retirement. She had worked at one company -- We Care Services for Children -- for 35 years. THIRTY FIVE YEARS AT ONE JOB. Wow. Considering that in my line of work, looking for a new job while you're still in your current job is actually a normal (and expected) part of the job itself, I can't fathom dedicating that much time to one single company. It truly takes a certain kind of person to put themselves in that role and Dooey has that gift.
When she gave her acceptance / farewell / thanks for the memories speech at the end of the party, I looked around at all the adoring friends, family (and all fans) and was amazed how one woman could have such an impact on so many lives. I thought about all she's been through in her life -- births and deaths and sickness and laughter -- and how she can stand in front of all of us and truly say what a great ride it's been.
She put it a little something like this:
"Sometimes, when you least expect it, you get lucky. You run across the perfect pair of shoes on sale... and you just got paid. Your favorite movie is on HBO... and you remember how to record it. You hit every green light on the way home from the mall... and don't miss the start of the game.
Or maybe you break up with that creep that you thought was the greatest guy in the world and you really do find the greatest guy in the world... and he thinks you are also the greatest! And you have a pretty happy life and you live in California and your whole family in the Midwest thinks you drive on gold-paved streets.
But you eventually find yourself at a crossroads of sorts and you look around a bit and wonder what the next thing in your life might be. And then one day, when you least expect it... things get better and the PERFECT job falls right in your lap... and you weren't even looking for it!
If you had told me in 1972 that I would be standing here tonight, trying to give this little speech without crying, I probably would have laughed right out loud! But, here I am, hopefully not crying....
Yep, sometimes you just get lucky."
I realize that I've been spending a lot of my time contemplating on what's missing in my life instead of being grateful for what I have. I am so blessed -- so lucky -- to have supportive friends, a loving family, an amazing job, a killer condo, good health... the list goes on and on.
But then I broke it down to this very moment. It's sometimes easier to talk about the overview-of-life / big-picture-stuff but what about right this second? Just as you are. Just where you are. So here's a little bit of what makes me so lucky right now:
drinking delicious coffee and wearing a scarf in July!
(I heart San Francisco)
hanging out with a cool cousin, eating Indian food, drinking Japanese beer, checking out a favorite band and seeing that love is out there... you may just need to do a bit of searching.
taking public transportation to grab a quick bite and have a good laugh with an old friend.
surrounding yourself with generous people and enjoying fresh fruit and mistress gardens.
spending the afternoon with an uncle and aunt who will drive two hours just to have lunch with you.
soaking up advice from a mentor and dear friend...
while still have enough energy to laugh with a day-after hangover.
catching up with long lost cousins
and of course, being so very, very luck for having the best Godmother EVER.
(love you, Doo!)
I may not have left my heart in San Francisco this time, but hopefully I left the tendency to focus on what's missing and shift my attention to realizing just how much I really have. Who knows, maybe that's all the luck I really need.
