Ginger ale with crushed ice.

1)      The commuter rail got me sick. How do I know? Because I do. Because business men pick their nose and then they sit next to me. Or maybe it was stress induced because I was going to “The Dunkin Donuts Relay” too much. In any case, the commuter rail got me sick. And then I had an asthma attack…..AT WORK. In my CUBE. I’m okay, don’t panic. The hospital was really very glamorous. They gave me ginger ale with crushed ice. Now that is living. My dad also bought me a milkshake that day. A triple chocolate one.

2)      Since I was sick I wasn’t commuting via rail like I usually do so my apologizes for the shortness and lack of juice-ness. I can tell you about a few things and these few things are pretty big things, with lessons, important lessons, so listen up:

A-     I learned that dogs can tell when something’s wrong. Cody was sitting on my foot when I got home from the hospital. He looked at me like “Mal, are you okay? I can’t believe dad bought you a milkshake.” And I looked at him and said out loud: “Cody, I’m fine, thanks. And dad always gives you treats.” Lesson: Not feeling well? Go sit with a dog. (And I don’t mean your dawg, I mean a real animal.)

B-      On one day that I took the commuter rail home I sat next to a lady who had a HUGE bouquet of flowers. At first I was hesitate; should I ask? Does she want me to ask? Would I want to be asked? Then I realized I had 20 minutes until the train came and I went in for the kill:

“Those are beautiful flowers!” I YELLED (and it echoed).

“Oh yeah, these.” She said from behind the sunflower sharply as she sucked in her cigarette smoke. I thought, yes those! Those big flowers you are hiding behind and your smoke is bellowing out of like some kind of smoke machine for the little bugs who are living in there.

“I made this.” She said as a follow up to her blunt statement. Now we’re getting somewhere!

“Oh cool, is that what you do for a living!?” Why do I always yell at people? I wondered this as my voice echoed again off the concrete walls.

“Yes I do.”

 “That’s great!” I said again way too excitedly.

Then she walked away to the next bench.

Ouch. I just got ditched by the flower lady. I really thought we had something flower lady, a connection or at least potential for a 20 minute conversation.  

Lesson I learned: I need to talk quieter and seem less interested. I need to play hard to get with strangers. Note taken.  

 Lesson for all: If you want to be approached by strangers bring flowers with you everywhere.

C-   Biggest lesson I learned in September: Tell those you love that you love them often, remind yourself how blessed you are with each day.

D-     That’s it, I told you – just a few lessons:  Dogs, Flowers & Love. What more do you need?