Ohm

This morning on car-rider duty I was agitated.  We were short-handed again so parents were dropping their children off on the side of the road, which is a real safety concern.  I spoke to one group of children to remind them to have their mom pull on up to the gate so one of us could escort their little warm bodies safely to the sidewalk.  Obviously, the parent saw me speaking to her children, so what does she do?  Pulls off the road and calls my partner over to ask just what did I say to her children. 

I wanted to scream,  "Get a grip and follow the darn rules!"  I certainly did not want to begin my week battling parents. Well, knowing me, I became anxious, and angry.  What a way to start the day.  So my friend looked at me with her beautiful smile and mouthed,  "Take deep breaths." 

"Thank you," I whispered.  Then I was reminded of the time I use to meditate regularly.  Seriously.  I was about 25 years old, single and barely making ends meet.  I had no money for frills.  No movies, no shopping, no eating out.  I didn't even have a TV back then.  But I did have a friend who suggested I go to her Buddhist meeting with her.  "You'll get so much out of it,"  she told me.  "It'll be good for you." 

So being penniless and single, I went.  It sure beat sitting in my tiny little doll house apartment. That apartment was originally built for a playhouse, but after adding outlets, a bathroom and an add-on bedroom, I rented it.   In fact, the address was 4-1/2 Rebel Road.  It was so small, the address was only a fraction.

Buddhism-just my calling.  After listening to speaker after speaker about how Buddhism changed their lives, I signed the dotted line, contributed $10.00 to a refreshment fund (HA!) and practiced Buddhism for about six weeks. Every morning at 5:00 a.m. sharp I would rise, stagger to the living room, squat on the floor, form the lotus position, close my eyes and chant, "Ohm!  I want money.  I need money."  Well, I'm here to tell you it worked!

One Sunday morning I opened the newspaper to the want ads.  Obviously, my job was not paying sufficiently.  And there it was.  An advertisement that read,  "Need money.  We have the job for you.  Sell AVON." 

"That's it!"  I shouted.  "Thank you, Buddha!  Thank you God!  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you!"  So for the second time in six weeks I signed the dotted line and became an Avon Lady.  Now don't mock me.  I did earn about $57 a week more, but I did indeed have to hustle.   And that's the whole truth!

                           

                                     My path to enlightenment today.

   

Comments

[tina]

I loved that little house on Rebel Road. I can even picture it. IT WAS tiny! I must say that I do prefer your Road to Enlightenment today.

[Lyla]

I guess I need to look closer at the newspaper, or perhaps the other end of the path!! I do believe though, to turn in over and let it be.

[Truett/Granddaddy]

I remember that little house that you moved from to Nashville to be with me and I will always love you for that event in 1971. PS- Your closet is bigger than 4 1/2 Rebel Road was.