I was sittin’ there,
I had a comfortable chair,
And that was all that I needed.
Then my friend offered me
A drink for us to share
And that was all that I needed.
–White Stripes/Take Take Take
It’s always something, right? Just when you’re looking forward to some serious fun, something happens. It’s usually not a disaster. At least in my case it usually isn’t. It always works out, often better than originally planned.
Maybe that’s because I’m lucky. Or maybe because I have friends and family who are so great. I was kind of bummed about being sick for the Ducks vs Vols game on Saturday. And a little worried that I’d have to miss the game. Which would have sucked, because a good friend was going to be my date and I don’t get to see her nearly enough.Also, it was Tennessee. No Duck fan with season tickets would want to miss the Tennessee game!
Even when I’m sick, though, I’m lucky–I wasn’t so sick I couldn’t go. Just sick enough to whine a lot Wednesday and Thursday at work. I was feeling OK by Friday, but still have a nasty cough. Anyone who’s lived with me is familiar with the cough. It’s like I’m part seal. My folks took good care of me on Friday night so I could get a little rest. And (luck again) I didn’t keep them awake all night with my cough.
So, we went to the tailgater bright and early, I drank more coffee and less beer and car bombs than originally planned. Actually, no car bombs. I ate breakfast, I sat down more than usual and didn’t get to kiss anyone as much as I usually do. Still. Lucky! I felt pretty OK, didn’t cough up a lung, and got to spend a day with my fantastic family and friends. There was a brief moment of panic when we realized that we didn’t have the lucky Fireball, but luck and friends to the rescue again and a bottle was fetched by bicycle in time for us all to have our lucky pre-game shots.
And, of course, we ultimately won the day against the Volunteers, in spite of the fact that I had to yell much less than usual because it made me cough. The rest of the crowd picked up my slack. Teamwork is great. The win had nothing to do with luck, of course. That was all hard work, discipline and other difficult things that I know nothing about.
Being so lucky always makes me wonder, though. Why are some people so much luckier than others? I’ve definitely had more than my share of good luck in life. I often joke that even when I’m unlucky it’s in a lucky way. When I was 18 and accidentally set myself on fire, I only burned my forearm. It could have been so much worse! Although I’ve been in my share of car accidents, I’ve never been hurt. When I broke an arm, I didn’t have to have a plaster cast, just a splint. Lucky. Always lucky.
Or maybe I just think I am. Maybe I’m no luckier than anyone else, but my Pollyanna world view makes me see misfortune as luck.
Or maybe it has nothing to do with luck at all. Maybe I’m just willing to be flexible and happy with whatever happens. Maybe I have low standards.
Whatever.
If it’s all in my world view, I’m going to go right on seeing things that way.
I am lucky.
And if I stop being lucky, I’ll still have world class family and friends.
Which, uh, will still make me…yes…lucky.
I don’t think it’s going to wear off.