small victories

Today was one of those days where I asked myself, "What else is going to suck today?" But there was something that did give it a little lift as I was reading the Metro on the bus ride home...

How did I end up on the bus today you ask? Let me start at the beginning.

I awoke, slightly hungover from an evening out to celebrate T's birthday (Happy Birthday T!), to my alarm at 7:30 a.m. At which point I realized that I didn't need to actually get up until 8:30 since the funeral was scheduled for 10. I changed the time on the alarm but never really fell back to sleep.

After finally rousing, we headed out to a funeral for Michael's second cousin. While funerals are never easy, this one's poignancy involved a ten year old neighborhood boy, Sean, who had befriended Jim through the church. When Sean heard that Jim had a stroke, he headed to the apartment that Jim shared with his sister, Sissy. He ran into her on the street, helped her home with her groceries and offered to take her to lunch. Sissy told him that was the best offer she's had in years. Following lunch, they went to the church and prayed for Jim. As they left the church, they were told that Jim had passed.

To witness that level of grief in a such a young, wonderful kid is heartbreaking. His story was included in the priest's eulogy for Jim, and when I spotted poor Sean in heaving tears, tears came spilling down my own cheeks. At that moment, I felt for all parents who realize the weight of their children's sorrow for the first time.

In the funeral procession with hazards blinking, we drove down the Arnold Arboretum towards the cemetery for the burial portion of the service. Suddenly the lights in the car began to dim and we heard a strange beeping noise. The panel indicated there was a problem with the battery, so I switched off the hazards. The battery light went out and the beeping noise stopped. Since we drove for a stretch, I figured the battery recharged itself (right?) and the problem was over.

We started the car - as we left the cemetery and headed back to the church for the reception, again as we left the church to head home, and again when I headed out to spend a few hours at work - with no problems...

Down by the Seaport Hotel, a guy blasted through a red light and came THISCLOSE to hitting me. That woke me up.

The mini sandwiches at the church didn't quite do the trick and knowing I'd be at work a little later than my normal hours, I pulled over in a loading/tow zone to run in for a quick slice and a Gatorade on Mass Ave. I wasn't really psyched to be headed to work after emotionally spending myself all morning, so when I turned my key and nothing happened, it didn't feel quite real.

I turned the key again - this time noting the flicker of lights on the panel and that the engine barely eeked out a turn. I tried again. And again. Crap.

CRAP!

I approached a police officer working a construction detail up the block. He called in my plate to prevent me from getting a ticket and asked, "Do you want me to call a tow truck?" Hold up! I think there's another solution before I automatically throw $100 down the tube. How about asking these guys if anyone has jumper cables? Ah ha! Got the car started and drove it straight into the garage around the corner from work. Told the mechanic the story of my day so far and he diagnosed the alternator, but he would check it out and let me know. I noted, a little too late, that they are a cash only operation. Perfect!

He called me an hour and a half later to tell me it was just the battery. Phew! I could have it today at 5:30 for $170. I thanked him and then asked my boss if that seemed steep to him. He agreed that it was, and I called back to ask for the break down in cost. "Well," the other mechanic said, "we happen to have this more expensive battery on hand, but if you can wait until tomorrow, we can purchase a cheaper one and install that for you." Could've told me that in the first place! Take the girl for a ride...

I struggled through a couple tasks at work and decided to call it a day. As I settled in for my T ride home, I leafed through the Metro where I found the news that would perversely brighten my day:

"$7,400: Amount the winning bidder paid for 22 Michael Vick football cards, chewed up and slobbered on by two Missourri dogs, on yesterday's eBay auction. The money is expected to be donated to the Humane Society."

Without getting into the utter disgust and horror that I feel about this case - it's not quite enough retribution and there will undoubtedly be more - it was a small victory for today.