Gratitude.....

This is it. My very new Ford Flex.

 


Yesterday was a very special day. It was our 3 year anniversary. For the past 2 anniversaries, I had planned our day. Our first year, we went to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, and last year, we stayed at the Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara and went horseback riding.

Very romantic events!

This year since I was swamped with school, I suggested that Rich should make the "romantic" plans this year. I had even supplied him with WAY EASY suggestions. I bought him cards that had 52 romantic (aka CHEAP) ideas to do.

How hard would it be to just pick a card, right?

Well, the week was drawing to a close, and Rich hadn't asked me what my schedule was like for the "big" day, or told me to be home by a certain time, etc., so I was getting nervous. We then got into a discussion where I told him that maybe I was asking for too much for him to be romantic, and that I should just learn to accept someone for who they are.

I swear that wasn't a guilt trip, honest to God!

Well, of course you can see THAT DIDN'T GO WELL, and well, let's just say, I was..........pensive, yeah, let's say that.

Well, I left in the morning to take my Math Final (ugh!), and then mentally drained, preceded to come home. As I pulled up to our house, I noticed Rich's car was parked on the street. He usually parks it at the end of our driveway, so I wondered why he parked it on the street (which is a good hike from a house, if you have been there!) blah, blah, blah.

So as I pull in just a bit, I finally see something parked at the bottom of the driveway.......A FORD FLEX!

Now those who have been hearing me go on, and on, and on....for the past several months about my next car, well, this was going to be it. I have had my car for 10 years now, and if you have seen it, I was desperately in need of a new one. But really, I didn't think a new car was going to happen for at least 1 and a half more years.

Well, needless to say, the car had a beautiful note on it that said "IS THIS ROMANTIC ENOUGH?". Yes Rich, this is waaaaaayyyyy romantic! You have certainly outdone yourself! Of course I cried for 20 minutes straight, and of course, he has milked it for all it is worth!

But on a serious note, this is the part that comes to the topic for my blog. I mean, I am sure that this story seems like it says it all. What isn't there to be grateful for, right? Because yes, having a car is great. I can't argue with that one. But for those who know me, my life, and where I have come from, this means so much more. Because you see, this wasn't the first time someone has given me a car. Let me explain.....

I have worked since I was 15. My parents are divorced, and of course growing up in East LA, I never saw myself getting a car when I turned 16. But even when I started working, I still assumed that I was WAY off from getting my first new car. So I went to my job 8 miles away, taking 2 buses to get there, and usually bumming rides whenever I could. And when I graduated high school at 18, not only did I start working there full time (even some weekends), but like a crazy person, I decided to go full time to school, while writing for the college newspaper (I was going to be a journalist!). Oh, and I lived on my own, paying rent of about $200 a month. Point being, I did this with no help from my parents (and that is another blog post!)

And while I was kinda mad that my life was hard (ok, who am I kidding, I hated it!), I just assumed that this is what had to be done to get somewhere. Not just technically, but figuratively.

"I" was all I had to rely on. And that was how I lived my life. If someone said it couldn't be done, I always wanted to find a way it could be done. I always believed anything was possible, because I knew "I" could make it possible.

So I will never forget the night when I finished my job at 5pm, took the bus to my college (East LA College to be exact! See, I really was from East LA!) started my class at 6pm and then at went to the bus stop at 9:30pm to wait for my bus ride home.

And there, when I thought I couldn't be more exhausted..............it started to rain...............And I had no coat............And no umbrella.

But at least I had a bus shelter stand (thank God for miracles, right?).

And as I saw people driving by in their cars, I remember saying to myself "One day, I will remember this when I have my car, so stop crying, and just wait. Not just for the bus, but for everything. For a car, a better job, an education, and most importantly, someone to rely on."

And I got home.

I can't remember when, but a few months later, my cousin mentioned that he had a salvaged, non-working car sitting at his mom's house in..................STUDIO CITY! (Crazy, right?)

My aunt (his mom), has lived mostly in a house in Alhambra. But for a few years, she lived with her (now deceased) husband in his place in Studio City. And the only time I went to visit her at her place in Studio City was the day I went to take a look at it with a friend who was a mechanic.

And miracles of miracles, he said that he could get this '82 Honda Accord Hatchback (yes, Accords came in Hatchbacks!) to run that day. It was rusted out, the seats were completely torn, there was no radio, no air conditioner, and well..........nothing!

But it was FREE, and it was going to be all mine.

No more standing in the rain for buses. No more leery men on the buses. No more buses, period.

I was happy. Happy like when my sister and I were little girls staying at my dad's house, excited to go to Disneyland, waiting for our dad to wake us up so we could eat Chorizo Sandwiches and Chocolate milk. And trust me, that was WAY HAPPY!

So here I am, pretty much 15 years later, and again, I am given a car.......in Studio City. And I only take the bus WHEN I WANT TO, and for a few years, I had some pretty awesome jobs (anyone remember Southwest?). And now I have my education, with the opportunity to give it to others.

But most importantly, I have someone to rely on.

My best friend, my confidant, and well, the love of my life. He drives me crazy sometimes (get it, "drives"?), but I love him more than Chorizo Sandwiches and Chocolate Milk. And never have I been so happy.

I hope this means that dreams come true. Because it sure feels like it has for me.

So remember this when you see me cutting you off on the road  (because I drive crazy like that sometimes!) driving by.

You can say to yourself with confidence "Dreams really do come true!!!!!" (Ok, maybe you won't say THOSE exact words, but something like it, right?)