Maybe I Should Have Been A Mechanic
Photograph by * michel clair *
The positive thing is that yesterday is over and I am still alive. My cat is still alive (and recovering nicely from his latest brawl with the neighbor cats…a few new struggles with pink, icky, liquid antibiotic and he should be good as new). My car is still running. And I slept well. Maybe I need to join the gratitude blogs out there?
Relieved that the cat would be okay, I then showered and raced to the office to see the first client of the day. Again - a gratitude moment - my veterinarian was able to get to us first thing. But, you are probably not here to read about what a wonderful person my vet is (he so is).
Instead, maybe you are here to read about what a wonderful person my car mechanic is. LOL. Yes, I know - Ellie stay on the topic (hypnosis). But, really, my mechanic story does have to do with hypnosis - my ability to continue to see my clients.
Continuing - I did make it to the office and my first appointment went well (nail biting - the client, not me - rather - the client used to bite his nails). Thinking I deserved a treat and to celebrate the anticipated recovery of the cat, I got back in my car and drove off to a local restaurant for lunch. Lunch was good. Then I got back in my little car and nothing. Nothing at all. No power. After a few expletives and a desire to sit in the car and sob (I didn’t), I called my mechanic. Last week my car was ill and I had to have the battery replaced. Could the problem really be the alternator? I knew it, I should have become a mechanic…
So, I called my mechanic. He said my problem sounded like loose battery cables. Was there someone there who could check them for me? No. Did I have a pair of pliers? Ah…no. Could I get a pair of pliers? Hmmmm….maybe. I walked into the Christian bookstore across the street. I told them about my dilemma. No one offered to help. No one had pliers. They did however point me in the direction of the hardware store two blocks away.
Finally, with pliers obtained, I popped the hood of my car and called my mechanic back. There I stood, in my whitest of white suits and uncomfortable heels, in the rain, and learned how to tighten my battery cables. Once accomplished, my mechanic had me try turning over the engine again. I bumbled back to the driver seat, hands black with car ick, fumbled with said hands for the keys, and hoped with everything I had within me that this would do the trick. The keys finally slid into the ignition. I turned them and sure enough…the sound of a positive moment - the engine turned over. I had power again.
With much gratitude, I thanked my mechanic, tried very hard not to touch myself with my dirty hands (that’s really very hard - and where are those tissues when you need them?), and felt the soaked wet cotton of my suit clinging to me in ways that do not benefit a professional. A wet cotton suit contest, maybe…but not a clinical hypnotist. But, I did make it back to the office for the next client. I even had time to scrub my hands and dry off a bit.
And that was yesterday. There are times when I think I should have been a mechanic…
August 29th, 2008 at 8:38 am
What a day. Trying to be a woman in a world full of men that don’t have to wear white suits. I am glad you got the car up and running.