April 10, 2011

I really hate yard work. If you ever visited my house you would know that but there’s something intoxicating about the sun. Sunday afternoon was the first day the temperature topped 70 in I don’t know how long. I decided that I would go to our little patio to work on my blog but as soon as I stepped outside something, some sort of instinct, something that overcomes even the most sprouted couch potato, and I started to do yard work.

IT’S NOT EVEN MY PROPERTY!! And I couldn’t stop either. I not only cleaned up around our patio I went out and picked up all the papers and cans in the parking lot! I needed a CURE and I got it.... I started to sweat. The sensation made me realize that I was doing WORK and I put everything away, got a Coke and sat down in front of the computer. Wow! That was close. You can call me Spud again.

As a kid I got up every Saturday morning to watch Buggs Bunny and The Roadrunner and Coyote show. I would watch Wile E. Coyote work so hard to devise a way to catch the Roadrunner and then fail miserably. Sometimes the way things go I wonder if I didn’t subconsciously make him a role model but I digress. One episode I recall the Coyote tie several large balloons to his waist.

The bright red, blue, green and yellow balloons slowly lifted him high in the air where he came to the cliff where the Roadrunner waited. When Coyote reached out for his prey the Roadrunner filled the Coyote’s arms with an anvil and poor Coyote sped to ground with a crash and the balloons were replace with swirling stars around his head. Did you every wonder why the Coyote didn’t let go of the anvil? Are you wondering why I’m telling this story?

I thought of that illustration after my week at “New Chief School”. Here I have been chasing this thing and I reached the cliff to grabbed my prize. Then they warned our group of all the things expected of a Chief and warned of all the things that could go wrong and the prize suddenly felt like an anvil. AAAGGHHH!! A voice in my head said, “Let go of the anvil! Why did you reach for it in the first place!? Weren’t you happy and safe before?!”

Friday morning at class I looked around the room and suddenly I had a swell of peace and pride. I was EXACTLY where I wanted to be. God had put me here and I had nothing to be afraid of because no matter what my position is, God is with me. I’m gonna hold onto that anvil and enjoy the ride.

I do have to say that the thing I took away from my week at school was not so much the information as the inspiration and motivation. I’m refocusing myself and I’m going to try and be more deliberate in what I’m doing and I had a good week at work. Still much to do and many decisions to make.

To cap off my week I decided that I would go out Friday night and hit the streets. I’ve heard it said that you never forget how to ride a bike but you need to have all the parts on your bike and know the trail you’re riding or you can still crash.

When I was in a patrol car I prided myself on being fully equipped and prepared so just minutes into the shift I showed up to assist the night sergeant Doug on a stop. He turned to me and asked if I had something to remove a license plate, “Of course I do” I thought to myself and then realized that I left my briefcase with wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers back at the office. Doh!! So I headed back to the office.

I got back with my tools and Doug has the driver completely filling the back seat of his patrol and says to me, “Can you take her to jail for me?” “Of course I can” I say to myself and stride up with confidence, tell her she’s under arrest, put the handcuffs on her and reach for my handcuff key...DOH!! I try to be kind to myself when my mind says, “It’s in your desk drawer you fool!” “Ha!” says the right hemisphere, “I’ve got a backup on my key ring.” DOOOH!! “You gave that back to Owosso moron” the left hemisphere replies. The frontal lobe responds cooly and I use the handy ink pen in my pocket instead to double lock the cuffs.

Now I’m covered for the short term but eventually I’ve got to take these things off and I’m going to a jail where I have never been before. Remember that pride I talked about Friday of Chief school, well I get to swallow all of that plus when I have to ask Doug for his key at the jail. The procedure at the jail isn’t difficult but it was like going to visit the first home in Japan when I didn’t know whether to take off my shoes or bow to my hose. Awkward.

The night was fun but made me feel like a guest conductor for a symphony without having the sheet music, I’d just be waving my arms. But it was fun and now I have another page of the music to work with.

More later.