Serendipi-tea . . .: How An Oil Change + The Lion King Gave Me Some Perspective

Have you ever noticed that just when you finally get to a place in your life where it looks like things are going to be OK for a little while, something crappy just comes along and smacks ya right upside the head? Aren't I ever the optimist, right? Anyway, it happened to me this morning when I got into my car to go to work. This is what I saw:

"Change Oil Soon"

The message scrolled menacingly across the information panel on my dash, taunting me with it's aqua green neon letters. So I did what any mature adult does, I lifted my hand and flipped off my dashboard.

It's the 6th of the month. I get paid once a month on the 1st. I have not budgeted for this, nor do I have the time to take my car into the oil change-a-majigi place, where they will surely ask me if I want new wiper blades and an air filter. Of which I will scream, "I DID NOT BUDGET FOR THIS!!!!"

Just kidding. I will keep my cool and not scare any of the burly mechanics or small children in the lobby.

But this entry isn't about an oil change at all. It's really about how we choose to handle the inevitable crap that comes our way. The scheduled and un-scheduled maintenance in our lives. This morning, in a heated moment, yes, I flipped off my car, but what I didn't do was get all (please see the following):

OMG! Why is this happening to me? Whaaaa! I am single and have no boyfriend who could change my oil and this is pathetic and my life is over and I hate every woman who has a boyfriend or husband right now because they would at least have someone to bitch to about their stupid car that is SCREAMING AT THEM FOR OIL RIGHT THIS SECOND. OMG!!!!!!
I wonder if I could honestly walk and ride the bus for the rest of the month. I could. I am a shining beacon in the darkness of public transportation! I am the martyr of all sea turtles, river otters, chinchillas, coral reefs, and redwoods! Hear me ROAR!!! (Until my next paycheck.)
Walking would be, like, so awesome for my figure. He-llo 2011.
How much oil does a car really need? I mean seriously. Is this just a conspiracy between Chevy and Jiffy Lube to get me in there every 3,000 miles? It makes sense . . .hmmm. (Very high eyebrow raise.)

OK. So, maybe I did freak out and "get all" 1,2,3, and 4. A little bit. In my head--not aloud. For a couple of minutes.

But then I thought about how silly I was being. How grateful I am that I have a car, a little bit of oil in it, and enough gas to get me to a job I am also grateful for. You see, just recently I was hired at the library full-time. I was laid off from a full-time job in May of 2009 and have not had full-time employment for an entire two years. That is May 2009 until January 2011 with only part time or three-quarter time work!

Dude! I've made it through a lot in these past two years! (And I got my oil changed in the process . . . )

SO . . .