I was walking to work yesterday wondering what the heck I was going to blog about today. I wandered into my Starbucks as I do every workday (and some weekend days…) and I got my usual warm greeting from Lydia, Joy, Janna, Scott & Brad - my other usuals, Ashley, John, Matt & Angie were there earlier in the week. They always treat me so nicely – they always have a smile for me and a cheerful greeting, they always make me feel good. And they always know what I’m having. (Maybe because I haven’t changed in seven freakin’ years… Every now and then I throw them a curve, and on weekends, all bets are off.)
As I grabbed my cappuccino, I remembered a grumpy old man and the rain and realized what I could talk about today…
One morning, about four years ago, it was raining cats and dogs. On the way to work, I opened the door to my Starbucks and walked in with the usual giant smile on my face and got my usual greeting, from the baristas there at that time… There was a grumpy old guy waiting for his coffee. Perhaps a little damp from the downpour – he saw my grin and barked, “What can you possibly be so happy about?!?!”
I guess it wasn’t unexpected – sometimes my consistent happiness does appear a little less than sane. I wandered over next to him and said, “Let me tell you a little story…” The baristas kinda thought they knew what was coming – they all knew my story and were accustomed to me telling it to customers – but they don’t know all of the angles…
I told the man that it was only a few years earlier that I would sit in my 10th floor window looking out into the pouring rain. Down on the street below, I would watch my wife’s umbrella disappear around the corner as she walked to work. Laura walked about a mile to work every day, in the rain or snow or sunshine.
I told him I was dying because my lungs were failing, and I was waiting for new lungs. I was on oxygen around the clock and after my therapist finished pouding on my chest for two hours, and helped me with breakfast, Laura would leave for work. I explained that, while watching out our window to the street below and seeing my wife’s umbrella disappear, I would wonder if I would ever get caught in the rain again – I wondered whether I would ever get caught in a drenching downpour again.
Then I showed him the pictures of Kari that I keep in my wallet, and I told him about her. I told him how special she was. I told him how she told her family, twice in the month before she passed how strongly she felt about organ donation. I told him that I have both of her lungs. I told him how amazing my life has been since I’ve received her gift, and how her smile crosses my mind throughout the day, every single day.
I told him that getting caught in the rain makes me smile. It lets me think back to watching my wife’s umbrella disappearing down the street and wondering whether I would ever get caught in the rain again. I told him getting caught in the rain reminds me how lucky I truly am. I think I helped him understand exactly what I could possibly be so happy about. I left him smiling that morning – and every time I saw him for months after that, rain or shine, he always gave me a little nod and a knowing smile…
Running 5Ks and leaping tall buildings are amazing – but it’s the little things, like walking to work or getting caught in the rain that seem even more special… I got my cappuccino free that day too…
p.s. My beautiful little friend Megan got her lungs yesterday. I spent some time with her Mom, Dad, sister and Aunt in the surgical waiting room telling them what this breathing stuff was all about - I'll post about Megan tomorrow... Go Megan! Breathe!!!
