How one looks at things, does matter...

I have high blood pressure, and other problems with working with those that don't. I focus and destroy the current task and don't get between me and final victory, or I will wish I had brought something deadlier than my sour disposition to the danger area. There are many reasons they frown on my carrying a weapon at work - it seems to be a target rich environment and they know it.

I was visiting with Frank W. James and he mentioned the Seasonally Adjusted Disorder, anyone that has Wintered in Washington State knows that Gray Wet Misery is our definition of Hawaii, since that is all those fair islands send our way December through April. So after the white snows of Christmas, which stayed too long for politicians to escape the wrath of stranded voters, but made the ski areas fun, we got our Pineapple Express - warmer moist air, unloading rains in feet instead of inches. Day after day, drops in all shapes, sizes, patterns and effects on our lives beyond wet. Sure there was wind, howling, tossing waves, ferries and floating docks, tearing hats off and hairdos undone... lovely weather for snuggling up around a fire place and calling in sick. But the Governor says the State has no money, and we have a mission so we go to work.

Being old and wretched I sit alone inside myself on the ferry and no one notices, my laughing inside - for I often do. This particular morning was really rough, lots of rains, surging waves beating on the tossing dock, going down the long gangplank to the dock and then up the short one were an adventure most wanted to finish too soon, the wet weather gear was wrapped tight, the cord pulling hood flat around the head and very little flesh exposed to the salt water. So as a lady sits beside me and starts to unwrap I make a polite comment and a conversation starts (this is not normal Earl conduct - yes, she was a redhead). We jump right to her problem with a lose crown, temporary repair, future root canal (she is mature and has no problem with exposing imperfections) and I mention that I know she is happy she lives in America where she can get excellent dental care, even if they don't do it exactly right the first time. She agrees, and I go on to illustrate that how we look things does matter. She bites, and wants to know more.

So I kind of nod to the beaten looking people staggering on to the ferry through the fury, and I say 'smile', just look at them and smile. She does and I do and in the instant the feet are firmly on the deck, and as the eyes look our way the people smile back. They are victorious, on their way to the warmth inside and there are a couple of people smiling - things have to be getting better. We must have greeted the next forty folks that way, and I talked about the power of smiles, the first thing babies control that affects other humans (positively) around them, smiles. Good start to the morning for many those quick steps onto the boat with a positive greeting. The rest of my day was high speed and low drag -- how one looks at things does matter.