A Poem about Surprises

Last weekend, while we had two couples over for an overnight stay, our house was hit by lighting and we lost all water and internet. Thankfully, our neighbors gave us plenty of water – yes, having neighbors at the lake is actually a good thing. We got through it.

Yesterday, while I was playing golf with my nephew, I get a call from Elizabeth – and the first thing she says is, “You cannot make this stuff up.” Our basement was flooding because the our main pipe from our well had burst. We are out of water – again. Two weekends in a row! This time Jack and Liv have guests coming for the weekend. It will get fixed this morning and everything is going to be ok. One of our other neighbors came over to try to help.

Two takeaways. First, both events gave us a chance to know our neighbors better and to create more of a bond. Communities do come together when adversity strikes. It is in our DNA. Second, we will not forget either of these weekends – ever. And we will relive these weekends with both our friends from last weekend and with our children. Again, what happens to you does not define you. What you do with it does define you.

So, I pulled out this poem that I wrote in 2014 to share. Facebook life is not our life. The events above and from this poem are our lives. Poem spoiler alert – we lost the deal and the existing client anyway. However, we got the client back six years later. Yes, in some things I do have patience.

Curve balls 9.18.14
 
I start the day in Memphis
Doing Yoga in a Hampton Inn
That sits near the Fed Express Headquarters
A modern-day corporate cathedral
A symbol of what controls society today 
The way the Church once did
 
Off to the airport to face a long day
Houston to Phoenix and the Red Eye back home
My walk is tranquil through the airport
And I sit and complete emails and calls
I glance at the gate to see frantic ticket agents
And an uneasy feeling comes over me
 
While in line to board
They announce no more passengers 
And my earlier uneasiness becomes panic
I may miss my sales pitch in Phoenix
To management and the board
And I think "no Phoenix, no deal
 
With some creativity I re-route
And I am bumped to First Class
I am served a three-course meal
With fine Oregon Pinot Noir
I savor my crusted apple pie
While watching the movie “Chef”
 
As I sip my after-dinner coffee
I realize that control is an illusion
Some curve balls hit you
But some come right over the plate
I was thrown two curve balls today
Hit by one, and one right over the plate