My Breakdown

I have been anticipating a breakdown for many years now. I have never had one but I know of some people who have, even in my own family. I guess it was just a matter of time before I ended up at the side of a road thinking about death......So there I was, on I-15 southbound, driving at a swift clip in the fast lane as always. Then I lost power, the RPM's flatlined and I had to guide my vehicle across three lanes of traffic to the shoulder. Except I was approaching a small incline in the highway and my momentum petered out. I found myself perched on an overpass, cement barrier on one side and eighteen wheelers from hell on the drivers side. There was an unending line of semi trucks, cement trucks, dump trucks, fuel trucks, all speeding within feet of my sardine can. As each behemoth invaded my safety bubble my whole car felt as if it would take flight and flip over the cement barrier. This is about the time I began thinking about death. Really it would take but a small distraction in the driver of a truck and I wouldn't feel a thing. I kept my eye on my rearview mirror guaging the trajectories of the oncoming vehicles. Just when I started to sort out an escape plan a police officer pulled up behind me. He walked up to my passenger window and told me that I sure chose a dangerous place to park. ha ha. Next he pushed me out of harm's way using the bumper of his patrol car.
After having my life flash before my eyes about 60 times I firmly decided to replace my beloved and aged BMW for a more "mature" vehicle. Two days later my master negotiator (Dave) and a car salesman went to battle over the purchase price of my new and lovely Lexus sedan. Hopefully I won't have a breakdown for another ten years. Mental breakdown? no guarantees

Sibs and Friends

Lately I have been thinking, really thinking. Usually I try not to go especially deep with my thoughts  regarding the past or the future because, frankly, both make me anxious. I don't have a handle on either one. Still I find myself examining the relationships I have with people; now, then and in the future. I notice that I am a finicky friend and tend to play it safe when conversations turn personal. I am a listening friend, not a sharing friend. Therefore friendships for me are superficial and fun. They come and go. Sibling relationships, however, are perpetual through thick and thin. I don't have to constantly maintain my alliances with each of my five sibs to know that they will always be there if I but reach out for them. The difference between mere friendships and strong sibships is that if I neglect a friendship it becomes unreliable and cool.Yet if I overlook my family for a time I know that they will still be there when I am ready to share a burden. The greatest aspect of having a big family is that each of us have a distinctive gift to give each other. Depending on our individual struggles there is always one of six who can be sympathetic to that particular obstacle. So, as a whole, my family offers solutions like a rainbow offers colors. I may not share everything with everyone but at least one of these colors are utilized depending on the flavor of my dilemma.

I have known my siblings all my life and each one of them is more valuable than any friend I could ever have.