That’s right…now I know how it feels. As my eyes tracked the car making a U-turn I was holding my breath. With one flick of his finger my heart stopped. Me. It was me that had broken the law. I was at fault and got caught.
Rewind a few hours. My morning was just, okay. I’ve been sick for a few days and finally starting to feel better. I have a horrible cough that could put any smoker of 20+ years to shame and still a little achy. But things were looking up, health wise.
I had decided I’d try to ease back into my work out routine. Starting with Yoga. But I was late. So, putting the pedal to the medal I hurried along. I was going 50 in a 40 and had no clue what the speed limit even was. I’ve watched this whole thing happen to my hubby numerous times but never been in the drivers seat. I was terrified. I’ve also give Justin a hard time for getting off with a warning 4 times in a row (all for different occasions!). I just knew my luck would not follow suit.
When the officer came to the window and learned I was breaking the law to make it to Yoga Class, he chuckled saying, “Not a very good reason, huh?”. I agreed thinking, “how much will this dumb yoga class cost me?”
He took my licenses and insurance back to the car as I sat there hacking away and trying to hold it together. Years ticked by.
He returned, handing me back my belongings and said, “well, I won’t be needing any autograph from you today. But keep in mind, its 40 along this whole road.”
What? No ticket, no warning even. As he walked back to his car, I turned the key and drove the remaining 300 yards to class. I parked and then…then I cried. I was guilty and deserved a ticket and for some reason, him letting me off was almost worse than a ticket. Maybe it was the fact that he thanked me for being so polite when I’d been breaking the law or that I’d assumed the worse, to be given the best. Whatever the reasons were for me loosing it, it was lost.
I got into class an appalling 20 minutes late and saw that my friend had already set out my mat. Later I got home to a husband on his lunch break and a tail wagging dog.
It had been a horrible day, I told my husband. After he returned to the office and I was getting back to work, I was listening to a song on the radio. “Do Everything” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Oddly enough that song made me realize, what, it’s been a good day. I got let off! I had a friend in yoga, my husband was home for lunch, and I have a happy dog!
Time for a fresh perspective.