The Right Place at the Right Time

Exactly one month ago I wrote a Monday Message about timing. On Saturday, I lived that message.

My son, David, and I had a couple of Saturday morning pole inspection projects in Temecula. After picking him up in Rancho Santa Margarita, I suggested we take Ortega Highway because I hadn’t been that way in a long time, and scenery is really beautiful. My GPS would not pick up that route, so I asked my son to check his phone to see if Ortega Highway was open. He checked, it said it was, so off we went. Unfortunately, after 40 minutes and reaching the top of Ortega Highway, we came to a complete stop because there was a construction crew working on a bridge and a CHP Officer turning traffic around.

That was a mistake on my part, because when we first got on Ortega Highway, there was a sign that said, “Through traffic only”. It should have said, “No traffic only” and/or I should have heeded the warning, but for some reason I just kept going.

By the time we reached Temecula, we were more than an hour behind schedule. Fortunately, the first job went really well, so we made up some of the lost time. Unfortunately, as I was pushing my tool cart towards the last Light Pole in the Shopping Center, I saw a locked car, with a little boy inside. He could not have been more than 3 years old, and he was banging on the window at me. It was 75 degrees out and starting to get much warmer, and the little boy looked scared, which scared me!

I looked around for the parents and then checked the doors and the windows, but they were all closed and locked. I didn’t like what I saw, so I quickly headed to the nearest store to see if I could locate his parents. As I started inside the nail salon, a lady walked out of the coffee shop next door. I quickly asked her if that was her silver Honda in the parking lot and she smiled and said yes. I immediately responded with, “What the H… is wrong with you?!!!” There’s a toddler locked inside that hot car, and he was banging on the window for my help!” She laughed and said, “I was only gone for a few minutes”. That did it for me. I totally lost my cool and screamed at the woman, saying, “It’s not funny! There’s nothing funny about putting a child in danger - and you’re an idiot! Get that car opened up right now, and you’re lucky I don’t call the cops and report what you did!”

I was angry and I was harsh, but I don’t regret it. I think sometimes it’s okay to get angry. Especially if you need to get someone’s attention who is making a huge mistake and putting others in danger. And I’m pretty sure I got that lady’s attention in a big way, so hopefully she won’t make that mistake ever again.

Went I got home I asked my wife if she thought I did the right thing. She said, “You were in the right place, at the right time, and did the right thing. She must be right, because she’s no idiot!

It’s not enough to be in the right place at the right time. 

You have to be the right person at the right place at the right time.

                                                                       ~ T. Harv Eker                                                          

A Reason for Seasons

When I looked out my bedroom window last week, there was a beautiful site. It reminded me of the change of seasons and that Spring is right around the corner. I like that there are different seasons, but is there a reason for seasons?

I think I may have come up with the answer to that question when I visited the Dentist on Thursday. I haven’t been to the Dentist in a very long time. Four years ago, Covid kept me away. Two years ago, my Dentist, who is also a good friend of mine, passed away at a young age from stomach cancer. So just driving by Jim’s office would make me really sad. Jim was an extraordinary man, kind, compassionate, funny. A man of faith and a very good friend. We both enjoyed playing guitar, and we often played golfed together, went out to dinner together, and laughed together… a lot. His passing left a huge hole in my heart.

But I recently developed a toothache, so I made an appointment with Jim’s partner. Jim and Bill shared a dental practice at the same location for 23 years. They were not just partners, but the best of friends as well. So when I sat down in the dental chair and Bill walked in, it all felt a little strange. Bill and I talked about my tooth issue, but we also got into a conversation about Jim and what he meant to both of us. At one point I shared a story about Jim that I will never forget. It was about six months before he died. We met at a golf course to chip golf balls and mostly just hang out together. Jim was an outstanding golfer, and his chipping advice was spot on. As we were walking back to our cars, I told Jim how impressed I was with how he was handling his terminal cancer diagnosis. His courage and positive attitude never wavered, and his answer was simple, yet profound. I am not worried or scared, because I know who walks with me.

Just trying to tell that story choked me up and when I looked, I could see that Bill was close to tears as well. He thanked me for sharing that story and then we both sat in silence for a few moments.

And that got me thinking… People often come into our lives for a reason and that reason may only last a short season. But the impact can sometimes last even beyond their lifetime.

Saddleback Snow

Despite the forecast, live like it is Spring. 

                                                               ~ Lilly Pulitzer