Soft Landings

She was sobbing on the phone. It was, in the larger sense, not the absolute worst thing to occur. But sometimes there is a straw that breaks the camel's back and one's spirit.

Her car had broken down in the Holland Tunnel, at least a hundred miles from her home. She had managed to flag down a ride out of the tunnel, went to a service station nearby, connected with a policeman and then been given a stern talking to and handed a ticket for abandoning her vehicle. The penalty, at least a one year license suspension. It was more than 8 hours later until she, and her  vehicle, had been transported back to the comfort and safety of her residence.

And so, when I checked in the following day, facing an unknown expense to remedy what ailed the car, the lawyer she would have to hire, the uncertain outcome of the court matter, she could not see past the darkness of the moment.

Recent history has been hard on her in other ways. A bad breakup of a relationship a clear blow as she struggled to regain her equilibrium. And because she and her former partner had to be in regular contact, it was a trauma that was repeating itself on endless loop. A wound that kept re-opening. The waters had calmed somewhat over time but still it was hard getting past the stress.

I spoke with her earlier today. The problem with the car turned out to be an easy fix, the price small. The lawyer was wonderful. This morning the ticket got dismissed. And this afternoon she was meeting up with her ex-partner to go on an outing to an aquarium. If not yet good friends, at least far from the enemies they had seemed but a moment before.

We talked about how this should serve as a lesson. When times seem bleak and we cannot envision better days ahead, we should understand that life does not always travel in a straight line. And sometimes what we cannot imagine occurring does, and surprises us in a good way. Making the bad memories dissipate, if not disappear. A smile on our face and gratitude in our heart. Not quite certain how we got there but happy for the soft landing nonetheless.