Andrew’s bar mitzvah gift.

Yes, you read right. This is about Andrew.

When he was 13, his godfather gave him 2 shares of Wrigley stock. You know, the gum, not the stadium.

Recently, Wrigley sold to Mars. So the stock cashed out. The best part was that Andrew hadn’t tracked the stock or even, frankly, remembered it.

So, what a great surprise!

The 2 shares turned into a nice little bonus and then, today, that nice little bonus turned into a Monster.

A Ducati Monster 696.

It’s a new day.

some days are better than others.

hard to see the truth
reality is unclear
push the hurt away

Move over.

Looks harmless, right?

Well, ask the 16 year old version of me and I’d say, “not so much.” You see, a UPS truck hit me back then. I was driving my mother’s Volvo. (sorry, Mom.)

I still contend it was not my fault. Unfortunately, no one else in the universe agreed. And I mean no one. But answer me this. If there is a suburban road and not enough room for a Volvo and a UPS truck to go past each other, who can go? I say, the one who’s lane is clear. My lane was clear. The UPS truck was smack dab in the middle of the road. His tire tracks proved it. So I say, he hit me. I was right where I was supposed to be. He wasn’t.

I’ve matured a little. At least enough to know that the bigger guy has the right of way even if he doesn’t.

And I haven’t had an accident or a ticket since I was 16. Grant it, I did have another accident at 16 after the UPS incident. It was my fault – inexperience on wet roads. And it was serious. What they say about Volvos doing that accordion thing? It’s true. And yes, it’s also true that I gave my license back to the DMV until I was 21. (it’s not like I was a prize for insurance companies at this point.)

But since I was 21 (and that’s a long time), I have not had a moving violation or an accident.

And that includes the UPS truck the other day.

Here he came, barreling down the road in my neighborhood. I was in my minivan. He was smack dab in the middle of the road.

This was some serious deja vu. Only difference was the roads were not snow-covered this time. (Did I mention the snow before? Hmmm. I think I forgot to mention that.)

So here comes this truck. I had the urge to hold my ground. Make him go around me. Or at least get out of my way. It was my turn to win this fight. But, I didn’t.

I was a wuss. I pulled over and smiled and waved as he drove by.

It’s not that I thought he should have the right of way. It’s not that I thought he was a great driver. It’s not even that I was being polite.

It’s just that I was hoping he was going to my house to bring my my new Wicked Good Scuffs and I didn’t want to hold him up.

Because my feet have been so darn cold.

I see you in the crazy clouds

Wonder if you ever wonder

What happened to me

I have a happy life

A husband who adores me

Three sons to be proud of

Wonder if you’re sorry

That you left me with such abandon

For a girl who didn’t love you

When I’d have given you the moon

I wonder if you knew

What you gave up when you gave me up

A woman who could have made your world

Better

Do I wonder what my life would be

If we hadn’t split that day

Sometimes but not often

But I wish the best for you

I always did

I always will

You were a turning point for me

The first real man that loved me

The first real man I loved

Everything changes.

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I’m now using Camino as my browser.

That may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is totally a big deal to me. I’ve been a Firefox devotee for some time now. But mine is acting funky. And Safari just doesn’t rock my world.

Will I be happy?

Time will tell. But I do love the attitude and themes. Tech but fun. Like the great illustration above. El Camino. Get it?

I was able to import all my bookmarks and such. It doesn’t have all the add-ons. Will I miss them? Time will tell.

All I know is that I spent my entire day playing tech support. Now Andrew’s computer can see my files. And I can pull down a menu on a website without crazy shaky stuff goin’ on.

I am not big on change. But I’m really trying to see the bright side of this.

Maybe I’m a trailblazer. Maybe just a poor shlub whose brower was flipping out.

Again, we’ll see in time.

Now, I’m off to spend the last night of our winter vacation chillin’ with the kidlets.

Peace out.