What a Beautiful Day!

Saturday April 5th 2008 was probably one of the top 3 days of my life. I wasn't really allowed to talk about that day openly until now, so I haven't written many posts. I’m going to back up a little bit and gently lead into this spectacular day that I experienced. Since late in 2007, I have been saving up to buy a car. I knew the Buick that I was driving wasn't going to last very much longer, and I wanted to get buy a decent used car. My plan all along was to purchase this car during the month of May because my registration and inspection were due by the end of May and there was no way the Buick would pass. This plan was altered slightly toward the end of March when the Buick finally broke down. I wasn't at all surprised. The next day I was looking for deals on a used car. Over the next couple weeks, I had some good leads, but ultimately wasn't getting anywhere. Liz and I spent the last weekend in March car searching like crazy. We started around Mechanicsburg and ended up in Lancaster perusing around. We only found one possibility and it was a bit out of our price range. I thought about the car that was too expensive for us for a couple days and finally gave up on it. Suddenly, a beam of light rested down on my computer for a 2001 VW Jetta, manual with low mileage in my price range. I knew this was going to be the car I would buy. I ducked out of work a little early on a Thursday afternoon and headed to York to buy me a car.

As Liz and I sat down in what clearly would be our new vehicle, we were slightly discontent to see the interior covered with animal hair. Apparently cleanliness wasn't high on the dealer’s priority list. Then we looked down to see a missing stereo. I wasn't pleased, but knew with the money we were saving, I could buy a decent stereo. At this point, Liz was ready to leave the dealership. "No way we’re getting that." Plus we had already waited a long time for the owner of the place to give us his attention. Despite these shortcomings, I thought we should take it for a spin. I was completely shocked by the performance of this vehicle. The clutch wasn't set well at all, and the engine sounded like a WW2 fighter plane. I was crushed. This was going to be our car, and we had to drive back home with heads hanging low.

Now we come to April 5th…. Ahhh the 5th.We woke up, the sun was shining, and it seemed like a great day to go for a ride. Liz and I were enjoying a good morning together, and I made a delightful breakfast for the 2 of us. Before searching the surrounding counties for a new vehicle, I thought "you know, Liz has been feeling a little strange lately, and her body is acting a little abnormal." She took a pregnancy test and BAM! Guess whose going to be a new daddy?!!!!(I bet you didn't see that coming with all of this talk of a new car.) I will never forget the feeling of that morning! Peaking around the door to the bathroom to see a plus sign, picking up my beautiful wife, and spinning her around with joy, and then of course running her square into a wall because I was a little hysterical and overzealous and lost control of the spinning… aaaaaaamazing.

After freaking out for a little bit and letting the great news sink in, we decided to go out and find ourselves a new family car. We drove out toward York because I had seen some decent deals there online. The conversation on the way there and when we were out to lunch was absolutely splendid. We talked about what the pregnancy was going to be like, and discussed the future of our child, and I had a grin on my face the whole time. I was as giddy as a… well…. Expecting father! We drove around a bit in York and had no luck at all. I was a bit frustrated, but nothing was really going to get me down. Liz was tired and started to fall asleep in the car, and I called my sister to get some car shopping advice from my soon to be brother in law. They directed us to Hanover, and I figured I would give it a shot. Liz woke up, and asked where we were, I had no idea at that point, but I knew we were driving in the direction of Hanover. On the way we found a couple of nice looking cars, but none in our price range. I planned on driving Rte 30 the whole way to Hanover, but saw a sign to diverge on another path to Hanover, and Liz inspired me to take it. We drove a couple more miles, and majestically stumbled upon the vehicle of my dreams. The moment we started driving the car, Liz knew I was going to buy it. Best of all, I was successful at talking down the salesman to a price we could afford. I’ve never really negotiated prices like that, and it was very rewarding. The car was on a red tag down 1000 from sticker, and I got him down another 1000. I know we got a good deal and a good car, and best of all, we were able to pay cash and not have lousy, no good, car payments.

I cruised home in my new ride, got to talk to my best friend Keith on the way, swung by my parents to show off the car, and rested home with my glowingly beautiful expecting wife. Talk about a magnificent day!!!

I That So Life

I that so life
Have I much and
So don’t is work
Much know going that
To where on I’m
Write to in too
About start my busy.

Amazing how simple phrases that don’t make a lot of sense can speak deeply about a person. If you read the above statement vertically from left to right instead of horizontally, it is a simple statement. Now that you understand my starting point, I shall interpret the horizontal messages that tell a different tale.

“I that so life.” According to MS word, that is a fragment. I am not surprised. I’ve always considered myself full of life, but time is passing by so quickly lately from days filled with extra hours of work and too much tv. I guess my full of life persona is starting to fall apart… or break apart… possibly into fragments.

“Have I much, and so don’t is work.” There is no doubt that I have been richly blessed in this life. I am very happy where I live, I have a beautiful and wonderful wife, many great possessions including a Wii (talk about have I much) and I just bought a sweet VW Passat. Why do I have these nice things… “so don’t is work.” Work has a lot of don’ts about it. Don’t do this and that while at work, work hard and don’t slack off, don’t do less than expected of you. At the same time we are called to don’t work too hard, don’t get stressed, don’t neglect your family, and don’t neglect your personal time. This list of don’ts is often contradictory, but we have to work through that struggle to have much. Indeed, don’t is work!

“Much know going.” Knowledge is my friend and I believe I have a lot going for me because of that knowledge. I have had many great life experiences that I think set me ahead of the curb compared to many other people my age. I also have a great job with high exposure to top executives and got that position because of my understanding of accounting and MS Excel.

“That to where on, I’m write to in too.” Despite work being don’t and fragments of life, I have much and knowledge. I’m unsure about what lies ahead, but whatever it is, I’m ready through and through (write to in too).

I’m not sure what lies ahead, but what I am sure of is that things aren’t going to get simpler or any easier. I suspect that it will only get more hectic and crazy, but I’m ok with that…. “About start my busy”