The Simple Things that Matter

The small gift that gave me hope!

I have been awfully busy lately, working with a team from around the world to get some critical advanced composite structure built for Bombardiar’s new CSeries commercial aircraft. My client is in trouble and their customer in Belfast knows it.

Tempers have been flaring, threats been made, and contingency plans in place. New hiring will finally happen, as I proposed six months ago. And we still can’t seem to move forward fast enough. Another words, your typical new aircraft program!

Everyone here at this site wants everyone else to leave, so we can get some work done. And soon they will.

To make things worse, about everyone has been fighting off colds, and likely passing them around the planet, as folks come and go. I had some mild symptoms last week and fought them off thinking that I beat them over the weekend. Wrong!

On Monday I knew something was wrong. A young engineer that I work with had it bad.

It’s funny, as soon as I am around someone sick with a cold, I feel the symptoms coming on – all psychological in most cases. I go into a survival mode, run to the restroom and wash my hands, and take avoidance measures to protect myself. Yet they say someone with a cold is contagious even before they have symptoms.

By late afternoon I knew it was not going away – a full-blown cold, not the mini-version that I had experienced last week. I made it through the day and prepared for the worst.

On Tuesday I was functional, but dreading what I now knew was to come. I survived the drive home and loaded up on supplies to make it through the duration. I mean really good Whole Foods Market supplies.

Today was the worst, but I had no option to stay home with a critical telecon for a Boeing Program, and on-call with Bombardier. I managed to make it through those tasks, but my body had enough, so I excused myself, and made plans to work the afternoon from home. I am so glad that I did.

I took some over-the-counter medication and then a nap. Mid-afternoon I awoke to the familiar sound of a UPS truck. I peered out of my bedroom window and, sure enough, I had a delivery.

Odd as I was not expecting my really cool DROID RAZR MAXX Vehicle Navigation Dock to arrive on Friday. Odder still is that the doorbell rang, meaning a signature was required.

To my surprise what I signed for was the really large package pictured above (in a box of course). The UPS driver said it must be a late Valentine’s gift. Yeah right, in my dreams.

It turns out is was a gift from the folks that I rent the house from, thanking me for being a good renter. How cool is that?

The stress, misery and conflict all dissipated for a time. The sun was setting and I opted not to take any more over-the-counter meds. Instead I uncorked a fine wine from the basket, filled the jucuzzi tub for a long soak, and pondered the significance of the event.

Every day I drive into Sacramento and pass a dozen or so homeless folks. I know their faces.

When I get to passing the Home Depot, I see a dozen or more “day workers” looking to earn a few bucks. Often they don’t.

And here I am, pissing & moaning about a common cold and a little stress related work turmoil. How stupid it that?

Odd, that a landlord sends a renter a wine basket simply because the renter fulfils his contract. How wonderful is that?

Shouldn’t this be the way the world works?