Crazy Train

The Scene: Downtown Kelowna, Sunday Morning

Cast of Characters: Me, Joanne, Mark and Conrad

Our very dear friends were in town this weekend for a long overdue visit and Sunday morning Joanne and I wanted to pop into Oranj Dance Studio to check out their schedule. We explained to the guys we were literally going to be a minute and a half and left them waiting patiently in the truck. We returned 90 seconds later to find them gone. We stood there wondering how they could have thought that leaving us on the sidewalk was funny. People do this kind of stuff in high school but at 38, I have ABSOLUTELY no patience for it. In that moment, there was no rational thought, no believing the best about either of them. I went from zero to crazy in about 17 seconds. I hopped on that train like it was taking me to Hogwarts.

Joanne (trying so hard to see the silver lining) said, "maybe they went to get us coffee?". I responded with an answer that I cannot share here.

When they did come back a number of glances, glares and stares took place. Here's how it went....

Mark: 'I'm sorry, I didn't know you didn't have your phone'
Me: 'uh-huh'
Mark: 'I texted you to let you know where we were'
Me: 'uh-huh'
Mark: 'we just went to the library to pick up those DVD's - Now it's one less stop.'
Me: 'uh-huh
Mark: 'sorry....'

When were able to be alone (and by that I mean without witnesses), I stood so very tall on my soapbox and spouted off about how disrespectful it was to just leave me on the side of the road, now knowing where he went, when he was coming back, how would he like it if?......



He apologized, I (eventually) apologized for getting so upset and the day went on like nothing ever happened.

However, after a few hours of reflection, I was hit between the eyes with the cold, hard truth.... Mark and Conrad did nothing wrong.

I was the only one who should have apologized. To believe that Mark would have just left us there as a joke?.... I was the one who was disrespectful. I went to my husband and said I was sorry and this time, it was for the right reason.
I couldn't see the good because I was focused on the crisis. A crisis I had entirely made up in my head.
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The Scene: Downtown Kelowna, Sunday Morning

Cast of Characters: Me, Joanne, Mark and Conrad

Take II

Mark: 'I'm sorry, I didn't know you didn't have your phone. I texted you to let you know where we went.'

Cara: 'That's o.k. babe. There was a train that went by here a minute ago, but I knew you'd come back so I let it pass.'

Get out of my dreams, Get into my car...

We were talking the other day at work about why we do what we do. Most of you know that I work for Summit Chiropractic here in Kelowna. If you know me at all, you know I love my job. Like really... Love. It.
I started out like most people. I wanted a car (actually before the car – what I really needed was that totally awesome purple sweater from Mariposa that my parents wouldn't by for me) so that meant I had to first find a job. Where does a young, vibrant, ready to take-on-the world, 16 year old go? Yep...McDonald's. The land of dreams.

Side note-Most people don't eat at McDonald's because they know it's not good for them. I don't eat at McDonald's because if I see another McNugget again in my lifetime it will cause a reaction far too violent to be shared here in this PG rated blog post.

Thus began my journey into the Canadian workforce. After that, it was a produce store, shoe store, another produce store, walk-in clinic, same produce store and another walk-in clinic (BTW-anyone need help choosing a ripe avocado or cantaloupe-call me).

“Cara”, you may ask, “why so may jobs?”. Well, most of my time between 1997-2007 was spent working 2-3 jobs at a time because I was trying to get what I needed. And what I needed was to pay my rent. To buy food. I wasn't working at these places because I loved sharing with people the difference between cilantro and parsley...I was working only to pay the bills and working to pay the bills is not a bad thing. It's a very necessary thing. I once worked 4 jobs at the same time just so I could continue to have cable because living without 'Melrose Place' was NOT an option.

I know that not all of us can have our dream job or even have the opportunity to. My dream job would be as a backup singer/dancer for Janet Jackson- but since Miss Jackson hasn't called yet, I can't see that happening anytime soon. So, I found something that I really love AND pays the bills. Does that mean that I never dance again? No. But what I CAN do is take dance lessons...And continue to embarrass myself as I dance around my living room with the blinds open for all the neighbors to see. (true story)

Always wanted to be a writer, but work as an accountant? Start a blog- share your talent. Always dreamed of being an actor, but currently deliver flowers? Call the Kelowna Actor's Studio and be outrageous! There is always a way to do what you love.

So to entirely mis-qoute the talented Billy Ocean, it's time to “get out of my car and INTO my Dreams”


PARSLEY.....




CILANTRO.....










Injoy,
Cara