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Jan 30, 2004 It is four a.m. and I am stuck in the snow on a hill on a major road, which is unplowed. No cars around. The houses are dark inside. I have to make it in to the newsroom. I listen to 1010 WINS say all major roads have been plowed. I can't go up, so I put my Kia into reverse...down...down..down. I call a guy friend on my cell phone from my car to ask advice. I later find out he was outside shoveling snow for his wife's car, even though she isn't going in to work today. I find driving backwards gets me great traction and I make down the hill and out a different way. Okay..finally..I find a major road that has been plowed. Inside a bagel store the men are complaining about shoveling driveways and SUVs that don't act like SUV's. They smile at me and ask about what a pretty girl is doing out in weather like this... and I can't resist. I say the worst: "You're all weather whimps." The bagel store goes silent. There's nothing but steam from the bagel table. "It's only water," I say,leaving with a tall cup of tea... laughing as the outside door closes behind me....as it is just about to close I see the cook scratching his head. Back at the newsroom, the phones are silent and the chairs are all empty. But ya know what? As my co-workers begin to shuffle in with small brown bags, white cups of steaming, strong coffee and sleepy looks, I realize...I am happy. No complaining for me. Despite my house having burned down...despite my husband meeting a wealthy chick and leaving me for her...despite a frustrating misunderstanding at work....despite the spin outs on the way to the office today.. Despite it all...I have a full heart..and my hardships have made me less whining. In some ways, the hurt has made me unstoppable. The weather whimps are calling in with driveway woes and day care problems....I juggled it all at 4 a.m..... It's like a vitamin, I think...swallowing hardship. Like a dose of One-A-Day..the weather whimps all need a dose of the Chris Falcon hardship vitamin to kick their lives into gear...they will suddenly be at work early on a snow day too, saying, "After all...it's only water". ------------ About the author: Chrissa Falcon is a newspaper reporter in the New York Metropolitan Area. Chrissa may be reached at ChrisFalconColumn@hotmail.com Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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