Interesting trip.
Last minute call from the guy I was buying my new old truck from. Really, I was getting ready to leave for for A-town and he called because the water pump went just as he was ready to drive in from Willow to meet me. Talk about a leap of faith. I was committed to going over there to pick up the pick-up. I decided to go anyway. Worst case scenario I would catch the Aces game, catch up with my bud and fly home.
Sticking to my tenet of everything happens for a reason I decided to press on. As I pulled into the airport Jess called me to let me know he got a tow and the shop could get it fixed that day. No problem; back on track.
He met me at the airport and we proceeded to Wasilla. The mechanics at the shop were very cool. I talked with them; ya know one wrench to another. I told them I had two goals, to make it to the game that night and drive on to Homer in the morning. They hooked me up. They gave the truck a good look over and we fixed a few small things. Instead of running around A-town shopping for all that stuff I couldn't find on the rock, I spent the day in Wasilla getting to know a new friend and chillin' while they got the truck ready for my trip. Great day!
I finally got to A-town, met my buddy at O'Rielly's for a glass or two of half n' half's' then on to the game. Life was good.
The drive to Homer was full of challenges thanks to my misdirection and the weather. Needless to say I ended up in Seward for a cup of coffee and the humbling experience of seeking directions to the turn I missed. No big, turns out I missed the majority of the storm that hit the peninsula on my little detour. I only dealt with about 50 miles of whiteouts while others fared far worse.
It was a small crowd on the Tusty but what a group! I had a great trip. I met several great fellow Alaskans, had a great breakfast and incredible conversations.
This entry is already to long so I will thank, Paul, Brad, Wyatt, Jason, and Dan for helping me pass the time. I had fun and learned a lot. Where else would I ever meet fellow firefighters and duck hunters, a colleague in my professional world, and lastly a man who moved to Kodiak the year I was born. We talked hunting, fishing, politics, and history. We also just BS'd.
My darling bride had misgivings when I boarded that plane Wednesday, I smiled and put my faith in the greater good. She in turn trusted my judgment and wished me well.
Maybe after all the events of last weekend, I needed confirmation of my beliefs. Everything happens for a reason; if you trust in the inherent good of man, then you will experience the best in people.
This is true.
Thanks to the folks I met on this trip, I have confirmed my belief that all of man is inherently good, trustworthy, and honest. I will not let the exceptions to that rule discount all the good that is out here. Because really, those that follow the good path seldom make the news. It is the exceptions to our common sense of good and bad that do.
They do not deserve the notoriety they get. It is the folks that just get the job done; overcoming the day to day challenge that life. friends, family, and faith bring, that deserve the notice. Maybe they do not want it, (I know I don't), but it serves us all as proof that we can fight the good fight, and remain unwavering, and resolute in knowing one thing.
The right thing is not always the easiest thing to do, it is not always the popular thing to do; but it is always the right thing to do.
I have ranted long enough.
Good Night
Thanks to Ishmael & Chris for reading.
Peace
Griff
End of the Blog
8 years ago
2 comments:
Good things:
I spotted a friend I hadn't seen in a while across the bar and asked the waitress to "send a drink over to Nick." Turns out there was another Nick near there that I didn't know and she gave it to him. Next time she came around I mentioned her honest mistake, but told her to let the first guy keep his and I'd get my buddy one, too.
It's not going to change the world, but maybe that guy will remember that beer and have my back if trouble goes down some day.
Thanks for answering! You are right, maybe it won't change the world, but maybe it will. Perhaps farther down the road that person will remember a night when a person bought him a beer by mistake and let it ride.
My experience is that random acts happen for a reason. You might never know the outcome of that event, but be assured, it will extrapolate into another act, equally good.
Who knows a free beer could turn into a memory that will spark an action far more significant in another's life.
Peace
griff
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