Making A Choice

 

In my experience, I’ve learned that happiness and gratefulness is very often a choice you can make. Should you of course, Make That Choice… But I’m not here to convince you of that, I’m just here to tell stories. So, this is the story of my day today, where everything that could go wrong, seemingly does... But by the end of the story, I find myself feeling a semblance of Happy. I find myself Grateful for my current circumstance. But as usual, I’m getting ahead of myself. If you care to read a long meandering story about my day today, Here ya go!

Today is Monday, the 8th of February. This morning, my alarm went off and I woke up to a gorgeous day waiting for me outside! My snowboards and other associated gear were all packed up last night for an early morning departure. The Destination? Mountain High Ski Resort in Wrightwood! Because of Covid Restrictions, I have barely snowboarded at all the last 2 seasons. *sad face emoji* So when the rare opportunity presented itself for me to ride today, I was incredibly eager to head to the mountain! 

The Mountain High Resort is about 1 hour+ from my home in San Marino. I had already driven an hour in my 2006 Honda Odyssey, and was about to head up the windy mountain roads when my car started to slow down on its own… Perplexed, I kept applying the gas pedal, but my efforts were only rewarded with “revving noises” and ZERO acceleration... Ugh! I pretty much knew what I was in for. I had been warned by my mechanic that my transmission might be on its last legs… But lucky for me, I was able to pull over to the side of the road safely, with more than enough room to park the car out of the way of oncoming traffic. I shudder to think about what would have happened if my car had died just 5 minutes later when I would have been on a windy narrow road with cross traffic on one side and a steep cliff on the other!!! *Gratefulness #1 logged: Safety

Once I determined that the car was indeed immobile, instead of cursing my circumstances, I made the active and conscious decision that despite this little setback, I was going to have a good day today. And that I would and could, enjoy my day going forward… With that decision firmly made in my mind, I called AAA to have my car towed.  After a brief time on hold, Laura at AAA Dispatch, got on the line to help me. “Hi, My name is Kyle Wong. I drive a very old Honda Odyssey. I’m stranded in the desert. I think I need a tow. Can you help me?” Laura chuckled. “Sure, I can help you. Where are you?” “I kinda have no idea to be honest. I see cactus, tumbleweeds, and an Old Wagon Wheel?” But Thank God for modern conveniences and being in cell service range, Google was able to inform me that I was on Hwy 138 by Ralston Rd.

"Kyle, I know you’re having a bad day, but I’m about to make it worse...”

“Ugh! Go ahead. Hit me with it,” I reply.

“Because of current Covid Protocols, we can definitely tow your car, but not YOU. Do you have anyone that can give you a ride?” I’m literally standing in the middle of a desert as vultures circle overhead as she asks this. Then Laura pauses and says, “I’m so sorry…”

But I stand resolved. Today’s events will not steal my joy. So, I buck up and say “No problem Laura. I totally get it. It’s not your fault. I’ll find a way home. Somehow. Don’t worry about me. I’m tougher than I look!” Laura laughs and says, “Thank You for your response. I’ve had nothing but Super Negative Reactions to that information all day and a lady just cursed me out on my last call because of this policy!” Laura went on to tell me a story about another customer who was so pissed off about the excessive charge to tow her car, that she deliberately went to the bank to get 40 dollars in coins to pay her bill!!!

Laura and I were finishing up our chat when she says to me, “Thanks for making me laugh. I needed that today.” I reply “Well, I’m gonna make you laugh a bit more in a minute. Can you also tell the Tow Truck Driver that I’m technically not wearing any pants?” Laura says “What???” And I explain to her that I was headed to the Mountain High to snowboard, but on the car ride up, I was only wearing “long johns” with the clear intent on changing into actual snowboard pants when I got to the mountain! Laura laughs again and says “I will tell the driver to be on the lookout for a 2006 Honda Odyssey and a guy with no pants. Is that correct?” I reply “Yup” and we both have a good laugh… Laura and I finish up our call with her telling me that I made her day today. And I feel good… *Gratefulness #2 logged: Making Laura’s Day

Enter James, the tow truck driver… James drives up in a flat-bed truck, and is very good natured from the start. I explain what’s wrong with the car. And then he quickly asks, “Where do you want it towed?” I tell him “Pasadena.” He stops mid-sentence and says, “You know that will be a 600 dollar tow ride right?” I exclaim “I know! But what am I going to do??? I’m in the middle of a desert and I don’t know a mechanic out here I can trust!” Then James says, “Well, I know a good mechanic not too far from here if you’ll trust me” Again, I’m in the desert and my options are limited. James seems like a good guy to me, so I say “OK. Take my car to your mechanic and we’ll go from there.” But that only solves half of my predicament. Because of the AAA Covid Protocol, I know I can’t ride in the truck with him to the repair shop. I’m now stuck in this desert alone. *sigh* But James takes one look at me standing amongst the tumbleweeds in my long johns and says “Come on man. Jump in. I’ll take both YOU and your car to the shop. It’s not far. We’ll both wear masks, it will be fine.” My heart leaps in gratitude! “Thank You James! I super appreciate it! Who knows how long I would have had to stand there if you didn’t give me a ride!" *Gratefulness #3 logged: Mercy Received

On the way there, I call my mechanic in Pasadena to try to get a price range on what a re-built transmission would cost. My mechanic tells me over the phone "About 3-5 Grand." Ugh!!! Well, it is what it is... Back to the story, James and I arrive at Pinon Hills Transmission pretty quick. I know for a fact we’ve driven farther than the 7 mile “Free Tow Range” per AAA’s policy, but James refuses payment. I thank him profusely and tell him to say “Hi” to his 2 kids for me. And I slyly hand him a very nice tip into his hand. He smiles and bids me farewell. *Gratefulness #4 logged: Kindness Received

Enter Ramon, the transmission specialist… Ramon knows transmissions. That much is certain from the minute he starts explaining what is going on with my car. “It needs to be re-built” he explains. Then the moment comes where he's gonna me what it'll cost. I prepare myself by thinking about that one Hallmark Movie where a stranded visitor gets hit with a GINORMOUS REPAIR BILL that leaves the visitor stuck in a small town for weeks! But that shocking moment never comes... Ramon says, “I can do it all for $2,200.”  I AM RELIEVED. This quote is well below what I expected to pay. And Ramon also assures me that the repair work will be covered by a warranty as well! Ramon is solid. I feel good about this. “DO IT” I tell him. *Gratefulness #5 logged: Unexpected Positive Outcomes

Now I need a ride home… I call my wife, but she’s at work in Beverly Hills. I phone a friend and that comes up empty too. I consider a very expensive Uber, when my wife Lily calls to remind me that my brother doesn’t work on Mondays! I call him up and BINGO! He’s totally free and willing to drive more than an hour away to come get me! I am saved!!! *Gratefulness #6 logged: Family Coming Through in a Pinch

Today’s events could very well be described as the "Worst Monday Ever." I didn’t get to go snowboarding. My car died. I could have very possibly spent 600 dollars to tow my car to Pasadena. Because of Covid Protocols, I could have been stranded in a desert for hours. The cost to fix my old minivan is still 2,200 dollars which is a lot of money in anyone’s book. I had to severely inconvenience a family member to come save me. And, I won’t have a car to drive for a week or more…

But then again, maybe I DO have a car!!! Long story short, I’ve been searching for a new car for months now. I had zeroed in on a Kia Telluride but could not find the exact model and color I was looking for. And I kind of had given up on the whole thing. But last weekend while I was randomly cruising CarGurus, a listing showed up for a Used Kia Telluride in the EXACT color and model I was looking for! And by Sunday afternoon the next day, I was driving away in that same car for thousands less than a Brand New Car! And could the timing of this purchase be any better??? *Gratefulness #7 logged: Serendipity

I began this post by stating that I believe that Happiness is a Choice. And I still believe that... And I also believe that by not letting the “little things” bog me down today, it led me to a series of Fortunate Events instead of “A Series of Misfortunate Events” as told by Lemony Snicket.

Life and Happiness is what you make it sometimes. Yes, there is a time and an occasion for sorrow. But for 90% of circumstances in my life, I CHOOSE to be Happy. I CHOOSE to make Lemonade. Am I a fool to think so naively? I may well be… But honestly, I’m OK with folly and foolishness. To my mind, “Folly” is way better than “Reality” anyways...