Surprises In Life

"I've been around for a long time, and life still has a whole lot of surprises for me." - Loretta Lynn

Somedays you get off work having gone to bed at 4:30AM wondering did I make a difference, does it matter, am I just plan home yet?  You run to catch the little league game before you miss another of your child's game comfortable with the reality that at least you get to see them for a few minutes before  quiet afternoon, i.e. no more appointments so maybe a quick nap, and then it hits you...SURPRISE!

Something walks into your life that you don't get to walk away from, nor would you want to if you had the opportunity because this is how things happen.  On life's timeline, not yours, and all of a sudden the moron in the middle of the street last night just does not matter anymore because he is last night's news and problem and now you have the "here and now" to worry about so to speak.

From Dictionary.com...

sur·prise

 verb,sur·prised, sur·pris·ing, noun

verb (used with object)

1.

to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness: Her beautysurprised me.

2.

to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly: We surprised the children raiding the cookie jar.

3.

to make an unexpected assault on (an unprepared army,fort, person, etc.).

4.

to elicit or bring out suddenly and without warning: to surprise the facts from the witness.

5.

to lead or bring unawares, as into doing something not intended: to surprise a witness into telling the truth.

I know some people love surprises, but for me, I am always wanting to know what is coming.  Yes, I was the kid who wanted to sneak downstairs and find out what was wrapped in all of those glorious presents before Christmas Day, I was the student who wanted to know what was on the test before we closed the books, and I guess I am the same in emergency services.  I mean, let's face it, emergencies move a whole lot slower for people who are prepared (hence the need to continually train).

In any case, surprises can be good or bad.  They can cause fear and loathing (testing) or they can be pleasant (that new Red Ryder air cooled BB gun) depending on perspective and timing and how the news came to you.  I'll let you know how this one turns out because let's face it, no surprise just happens.  There is always a ripple.

There is a demotivator poster out there that says no raindrop thinks it is responsible for the flood, but it works both ways negative and positive.  Some days good news comes and it feels like rain dropping on your head at first, but then you realize that the rain you are feeling is on a 90 degree day and the rain washes away the heat, the humidity, and your sweat.  Some days the news surprises you and you go wow and then it really hits you how good the news can be.

Enjoy the rain because sometimes the surprise from a cloudless day is as good as it goes.