What the world needs now...

Yesterday, a most unusual surprise was mine, and I will try to relate the circumstances. Some parts are easy to understand, and yet the best part for me will be a mystery to many! You just won't understand it.

My good friend Diane, [aka GNSJ], arrived at 10:00 to take me out to celebrate my birthday. She had read in my blog that I like surprises, so she wouldn't tell me where we were going. As we walked down the ramp of the deck, Diane held out the car key and said: "Here! You drive. That's your surprise!!"

"Huh?"

She replied, "This is Ben's car [her son] and it is a stick shift. I know that you love to drive them!"

I cannot put into words the joy that immediately made my heart beat faster, and placed a huge smile upon my face. I love, love, love to drive a standard transmission car. I haven't owned one since college, and when I was ready to change cars for the last 3 times, the sensible part of me had to agree with the many people who voiced that I should get an automatic transmission. I have had many flares of arthritis over its 20 year span where my knees would not have been happy to work a clutch, brake, gas pedal, along the other joints responsible for the action required by both hands to change gears and steer. The left side of my brain [logic and order] won every time, as the right side of my brain [the free spirit] sighed and said, "Oh well. In the great big scheme of things, this is small stuff."

Wahoo! It's like riding a bike. I did not stall the car once!!

We went to Pumpkin Hill [farmhouse turned restaurant] and had lunch on the porch which faced beautiful countryside and Cayuga Lake. My shepard's pie was the best. Diane had Mediterranean soup and a tuna and cheddar pita. We both ordered decadent desserts and split them in half and shared with each other. It was delicious and fun and relaxing and special.

I thanked Diane, and when I asked her what she thought my best part was, without missing a beat answered, " You driving the stick shift car."

And that was the truth. I was so surprised. It was a gift that resulted from listening and caring.

So what the world needs now...is more kindness...

It's a rich and unique experience for everyone involved.

Thanks, Diane! I loved it!