Heavy traffic - Operator error

I was so excited.

My friend, Virginia and I were planning to meet for an early breakfast.

Our usual pattern is to meet once a week.  Vacation and other events had prevented that from happening.  It had been three weeks since we had a visit.

She had things to tell me.  I was ready to listen.

I, of course, always have something to tell.

Our scheduled time to meet - 6:30 AM.  Early riser that I am, this was not an issue.

I left my house at 6:10 for the 20 minute drive across the Buckman to "her" Panera's.  She lives in Orange Park and we always try to meet somewhere between my Mandarin house and hers.

There was an accident on the south side of the Buckman.  I made a mental note that by the time I headed back to Mandarin it would be cleared up.

I was sailing along when I suddenly realized I had missed the Blanding/Collins Road exit.  Oh well, I had time.  I'd just go to the next exit and turn around. That would be about 5 miles on 295. 

Remember that accident on the Buckman.

And wouldn't you know I did the exact same thing I had done earlier?

I missed the Blanding/Collins Road exit.

The clock was ticking.  Virginia's time frame meant she would need to leave at 7:45 AM.  It was 7:10.  Could she wait?  Should she wait?

The traffic continued at a snail's pace.

We finally decided we should reschedule.

I enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast at Cracker Barrel (by myself).  I had called the experience -Heavy traffic - operator error.  I thought of what this operator did to make an error.  Was I daydreaming?  Was I so sure about where I was going that I didn't concentrate?

Do I have too much on my plate?

Hum - that's a novel thought.

Bottom line -I decided not to pout.  I"m already working on that "too much on my plate" plan.

However, both Virginia and I truly believe that 'all things work together for good' and are now looking forward to finding a time to meet next week.

I'm still disappointed but I'm smiling.  Everything always has a way of working out!

May your life be filled with enough sunshine

 to make you appreciate the shadows

Would you be my friend?

I often use three words to describe who I am

My faith in Christ is at the center of my life.  One of my favorite songs (tied with "It is Well with my Soul") is "Great is Thy Faithfulness".  One of my grandaughters has the sweet name of Faith as her middle name.  I love this definition of Faith = forsaking all I trust Him.

I love being a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a niece, an aunt and a cousin.  I consider myself blessed to have been raised in a Christian home with parents who didn't just send me to Sunday School but took me; who didn't just pray for me, but prayed with me and who remain a consistent example of caring for others.

And I love the fact that I have a plethora of friends - which is where my thoughts are today.

I don't look back on my childhood and teenage years as being a person who had a lot of friends.  I know that's hard to grasp if you know me very well today.  I was not confident.  I continually compared myself to others who were better looking, had more clothes or made better grades.  I didn't like myself so how could anyone like me!

Unfortunately, I was raised in a church where although the Bible was preached, so were all the things one didn't do if one was a Christian.  It made me afraid to have fun for fear I would break some rule.  I was a rule follower!

However, when I got to a Christian college, I relaxed.  Suddenly I was outgoing, friendly, maybe even a flirt. No maybe about that - I was and I am.

And now I have so many dear friends that I am hard pressed to tell you who my best friend is!

But here's one thing about my friends - they are all different.  I have very dear friends who are ardent Trump supporters -and some who are not.  I have friends who are Gators and some who are not = some are even Seminoles.  I have some who worry about their weight and some who don't. Some are happily married and some need to fine a way to be happily married or ... (that's meddling, sorry).

I have had good friendships that went sour and have had to fight to keep a couple friendships strong.  There have been times when I had to know when to walk away - with words of "I'll just keep praying for you".

Recently I was asked, "what's the secret of your having so many friends?"  I hope it's my faith.

A future homeowner stopped in to see how her house was coming along.  She had many questions and concerns and I listened.  I didn't really know her, but in time she was sharing her story (some tragic) with me  All I did was stand there and listen - asking questions and being interested in her responses.

The next day she was back in our office with a question "could we meet for lunch?".  I took that request as her saying "would you be my friend?"

We haven't found a good time to meet just yet, but we will.  I think I know why I have so many friends.  "A man who hath friends must show himself friendly" (Proverbs 18:24a).

May your life be filled with enough sunshine

 to make you appreciate the shadows

NOTE:  The words Faith, Family, and Friends hang on the wall of my bedroom.  They are the creation of my granddaughter, Allie Blain (https://www.letters4luv.com).