I don't
have an elongated or adventure-filled post for you today. Geez; about time
that long- winded bastard gave it a rest. Yeah, I hear you and thank you
for the kind words.
But really, I haven't had a lot of spare time this week to rifle through my cranial index cards and pull out a good story to share. And nothing terribly memorable happened today or recently to comment on, either. I guess that's because the dominant theme around here lately has been how busy I've been. Work has been a real grind for the last little while, and the last thing I've wanted to do at the end of a hectic frenetic day is stare at the computer screen for another hour and try coming up with more literary hot air to bestow on cyberspace. So you'll get nothing and like it.
And I blame Jack.
No, really. My colleague, Jack, left on an extended vacation last week- a well deserved (and expensive) 15 day Hawaiian cruise- leaving our 4-man department to carry on with only three. And it's not that this can't be done, but in my line of work (radio) the work simply never stops, no matter how many hands are on deck. It doesn't stop for vacations or illness; not for rain, sleet, snow or other natural phenomena. Of course it seldom slows down whether we’re all here busting our tales or not. Short-handed or full-staffed, stiff still has to get done and deadlines still have to be met. The work is always fluid, in flux and must go on because, 24/7, the radio never goes off.
While Jack's been out, the three of us in the department not on vacation have absorbed some of what he does. And we've also had the luxury of having a former team member drop in and assist a couple hours before he goes to the other job. He got hired away but still likes hanging out with us. Go figure. So the workload has been spread out fairly evenly. But because we're all doing more and using more hours just to keep up, writing has been the last thing on my mind.
However, while I was in the shower this morning preparing for another long day, I had a revelation. Remember George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life"? When he told Clarence the Angel he wished he'd never been born? Well, as I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair, this flash of brilliance hit me: what a waste of a good wish! If you're granted a wish and you've gotta wish for something, wish for a Mercedes or a date with the hot chick. Make it count! George Bailey may have been a good guy, and did have a wonderful life, but when it came to wish making he was a chump.
However, back here in the non-Frank Capra world, and on a practical level, being down a man this week has made me wish I told Jack more how much I appreciate him. He brings a lot to the table and is a good guy. But on a much larger scale his absence makes me realize how much we all matter- not just as worker-bees but as people. And how I wish I could remember that more. We matter. Jack matters. You matter. Even I matter. Everybody's important, and not just to fill a role or take up space. God put me here for a reason, and it doesn’t really matter whether I’ve figured out just what that is yet. He certainly knows. And if my presence here at this place and time matters that much to Him, it damn well better matter to me. Right, George Bailey? And what if you or I had never been born? What would happen then? Well, since none of us are that indispensable, at least on the job site, my work would get done, assigned to some other sap…..er, I mean, soul. But my soul would be missed. I hope. Maybe? By a few other souls?
But really, I haven't had a lot of spare time this week to rifle through my cranial index cards and pull out a good story to share. And nothing terribly memorable happened today or recently to comment on, either. I guess that's because the dominant theme around here lately has been how busy I've been. Work has been a real grind for the last little while, and the last thing I've wanted to do at the end of a hectic frenetic day is stare at the computer screen for another hour and try coming up with more literary hot air to bestow on cyberspace. So you'll get nothing and like it.
And I blame Jack.
No, really. My colleague, Jack, left on an extended vacation last week- a well deserved (and expensive) 15 day Hawaiian cruise- leaving our 4-man department to carry on with only three. And it's not that this can't be done, but in my line of work (radio) the work simply never stops, no matter how many hands are on deck. It doesn't stop for vacations or illness; not for rain, sleet, snow or other natural phenomena. Of course it seldom slows down whether we’re all here busting our tales or not. Short-handed or full-staffed, stiff still has to get done and deadlines still have to be met. The work is always fluid, in flux and must go on because, 24/7, the radio never goes off.
While Jack's been out, the three of us in the department not on vacation have absorbed some of what he does. And we've also had the luxury of having a former team member drop in and assist a couple hours before he goes to the other job. He got hired away but still likes hanging out with us. Go figure. So the workload has been spread out fairly evenly. But because we're all doing more and using more hours just to keep up, writing has been the last thing on my mind.
However, while I was in the shower this morning preparing for another long day, I had a revelation. Remember George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life"? When he told Clarence the Angel he wished he'd never been born? Well, as I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair, this flash of brilliance hit me: what a waste of a good wish! If you're granted a wish and you've gotta wish for something, wish for a Mercedes or a date with the hot chick. Make it count! George Bailey may have been a good guy, and did have a wonderful life, but when it came to wish making he was a chump.
However, back here in the non-Frank Capra world, and on a practical level, being down a man this week has made me wish I told Jack more how much I appreciate him. He brings a lot to the table and is a good guy. But on a much larger scale his absence makes me realize how much we all matter- not just as worker-bees but as people. And how I wish I could remember that more. We matter. Jack matters. You matter. Even I matter. Everybody's important, and not just to fill a role or take up space. God put me here for a reason, and it doesn’t really matter whether I’ve figured out just what that is yet. He certainly knows. And if my presence here at this place and time matters that much to Him, it damn well better matter to me. Right, George Bailey? And what if you or I had never been born? What would happen then? Well, since none of us are that indispensable, at least on the job site, my work would get done, assigned to some other sap…..er, I mean, soul. But my soul would be missed. I hope. Maybe? By a few other souls?
Did you
ever imagine that there's a piece of cloth out in the universe that's been set
aside for our purpose only. And, maybe, if we're not around to put
our design on it an empty corner on life's quilt is left behind that never
gets filled. And the world is a lesser place. Of course, I can’t
prove any of that. It sounds good
though. But all I really wished to do here was dash off a couple quick
paragraphs about nothing, to blow off some steam on a day when I was
feeling overworked, stressed out and petulant. There was no declared rhyme or
reason to any of the above.
Yet
maybe I should get cranky more often. Though drenched in hyperbole, that life’s quilt part is pretty good. Nevertheless my
simple conclusion is this: at the end of the day and in the much grander scheme
of things, not only is Jack precious and irreplaceable but so am I. And so
are you. Maybe not always in our own sight. But always in the Creator's. So,
Jack, though it's been a little crazy here, I wish you safe travels, my friend.
Hope the cruise to Hawaii has been the trip of a lifetime and that you get home
tanned and rested.
And
soon. Before I throw something though the window
haaaaaaaaaaa
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