If it's blinking, it's thinking, if its steady it's ready.

The lights on my coffee machine like to screw with me. When all I want is a hot cup of coffee, it trained me to just push the button and choose the appropriate size cup icon. But now it likes to say "fill water", "empty grounds" and "add beans" like I'm on its mechanical care staff. I steamed a cup of milk for my afternoon latte and screwed it back by changing the setting from hot water to steam only to get screwed back by the eternal moments of the blinking red light. Nothing will run until the light goes from blinking to steady.

Taking and extra 3 seconds in life is a perfect first start to a better quality life, I assure you. The same exact spoken thing aged just a few seconds- can be delivered with with tissue and a nice box with custom ribbon instead of sandpaper, broken glass and tacks.

Earlier today water was pouring out from a garage wall. My mom is doing laundry. I forbade it yesterday but that was yesterday and to her laundry takes priority over pretty much everything. I ripped out part of the damp wall and found the vile cracked pipe. Today my repair guy will come and see dollars on my face. I'll try not to reek of desperation and frustration. Life is about control and fear of losing it. Can I cope with the blinking light and act like I'm not really all that interested in a cup of coffee? Can my mom wait till the pipe is fixed before turning that dial to start on the washer? The answer is clearly no. Somehow if we wait we loose. But, since I am my own best experiment, I drove like a beginner, actually doing the speed limit, fully stopping at each stop sign and not inching up to a ripening red light about to go green. I brought my things back to the local WalMart and patiently waited in line. I waited as if at my own coronation, savoring each moment of anticipation. The pain in the ass little child of the woman who cut in front of me did not light my fuse. Peripherally, I watched as he ran around people and laid on the floor, ignoring her faux stress and weak correctional abilities. Finally he removed the belt of the stancion and it whipped him in the head, falling on his ass onto the base in full force. I showed neither concern nor righteous glee. He held in a whimper to match my careless gaze.
Finally, the girl behind the register sends me permission to come forward. I gush with joy and concern and good morning, how are you?? and wait to actually listen, giving my best body language of full on involvement and care. See seems shocked in a glad manner and all lights are on. We play our parts on a smooth transaction and bid each other, have a good day and we both truly mean it. Life is good, it just takes 3 seconds longer to own the beauty of it.