Jackpot!

During the breaktime of my class this afternoon, I decided to walk down to the vending machines to get a diet coke. For some reason, this semester, the machines in this building have been much quirkier than usual. In particular, the snack vending machine is always demanding exact change. On more than one occassion I have either borrowed from or lent quarters, nickels or dimes to one of my classmates as we persevere to meet the machine's unreasonably strict demands. I just want some cheeze-its!

Luckily, today, I did not feel the need to challenge the snack vending machine to a duel. I just wanted a nice cold, refreshing beverage--and normally the coke machines are much more receptive to the honest offering of a crisp $1 bill.

I put my dollar bill into the slot and it fed smoothly into the machine. Now, in a moment of identity confusion, the coke machine suddenly thought it was a dollar bill changer, and coins began dropping down to the coin return slot. "I didn't press the coin return button!" I quickly defended my innocence. Then I had a vague recollection that the same thing happened to me a week or two ago when I used this same machine. (Note to self.)

I waited patiently for my four quarters to drop: ching. ching. ching. ching. ching. ching.

Wait a minute... ching. ching. That's more than four... ching. ching. ching. What's happening...? ching. ching. ching.

Then it finally dawned on me--these aren't quarters. I'm getting back one dollar's worth of change in nickels! ching. ching.

"Hey, this is like winning the slots!" I laughed cheerily. "I hit the jackpot!" ching. ching. ching. ching.

I scooped the pile of coins into my hand--it nearly took both hands!--and moved on to the second coke machine sitting right next to the first. My suspicion was right: this machine was much more poised and ready for business and the transaction ran smoothly.

With diet coke in hand and I was now ready to return for the second half of class. I began the walk back with a grin on my face.

Little joys in life often come when we least expect it. Today was my lucky day.

Soundtrack of My Life

I was talking to a friend this afternoon and she shared a brilliant idea for a self-reflective project: creating a soundtrack of your life. She, herself, has started a soundtrack, and although it is a work in progress as hopefully she has many years left, she is up to the 4th CD in her multi-volume set. Complete with liner notes! I am fascinated, impressed, and inspired by this idea of a particular artistic expression of oneself.

What would your Soundtrack sound like? What songs would you include in your collection if you reflected back on the earliest days of your life and spent time thinking about the people, the places, the events, and the imaginations through the years, that have helped give shape to who you are today? Perhaps there are songs that are already tied to a special moment in your life. Or, perhaps in your reflections you will become inspired by a song that would perfectly illustrate what you were going through at a particular time. Or, perhaps there are songs that have no meaning whatsoever other than the fact that you like them and they inspire you to dance.

One of the first songs I will include in my Soundtrack will have to be something by the Osmonds. When I was little we listened frequently to The Osmonds Greatest Hits--one of the earliest cassette tapes we ever owned. In particular I remember a time when we listened to it over and over again until my parents finally cut us off--after a 15 hour car trip from Eugene to Southern California, EVERYONE reaches their limits! Good thing we were almost to Grandma's house...