Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Manna from Heaven

Today Manna from Heaven, for me, came in the form of a Bank of America and a 7-11.  Before you judge and throw actual pieces of manna (am I even spelling that right?) hear me out.  So, I've been using my credit card for most of my daily expenses.  I plan on paying it off fairly quickly, but I checked it today and the balance almost made me cry.  I desperately needed to get to the bank.  I had a couple of checks that would easily take over my bills and everyday stuff.  I looked online and there was a Bank of America just a few blocks away from my apartment and was sorta on my way home.  I calculated it and is only six blocks out of my way from my usual route home.  There was no way I was driving my car for six blocks.  So, I carefully mapped out the way to get to the bank from Union Station.  I just forgot I was going to be going at rush hour.

My problems started at Union Station.  The platform was incredibly busy.  Much busier than the actual Metro.  I was riding towards the front of the metro which was unusual for me.  When I got off, the crowd was pushing everyone who was getting off to a different set of stairs than what I'm used to.  I decided not to fight it and just go with the flow.  I had never been this way but I shrugged it off thinking it couldn't be too hard to find my way to the correct exit.  Yeah, no.  I got outside and I was at the back of Union Station.    To get an accurate picture of what I was dealing with, Union Station is about five blocks front to back.  I was about a block from the very back of the Station and on the wrong side.  I walked around to what I thought was the front, but it wasn't.  Instead of wasting time, I decided to walk until I ran into the street I needed to turn on to.  The street name was 'H' and I was starting at 'I'.  No biggie, right?  I started walking.  I'll admit I was taking my time and looking around at everything trying to get a feel for the area.  When I realized that I had been walking for a while, I looked at the nearest street sign.  I was on 'B' street.  So I backtracked, looking for 'H'.  I went past 'E', 'F', 'G' and then look, there's 'I' again.  No 'H'.  I walked down to 'G' and walked a block and then went back up a block.  No 'H'.  Again, I walked down a block and over.  No 'H'.  I repeated this two more times. Finally, I saw 'H'. But the sidewalk I needed to go down was under construction.  I went up two blocks then walked ten blocks to the street I thought the Bank of America was on.  By this time, I had walked WAY more than the six blocks out of my way than I originally thought.  Also, I had worn my Dansko's to work.  For those outside the medical profession.  Dansko's are clogs that are slip-on.  Extremely comfortable, but they weigh about five pounds and are not meant for city walking.  I tripped no less than 15 times on my little adventure.  So here I am tired, sweaty, my feet are aching, I am very thirsty, and I really have to pee.  Then, suddenly out of nowhere... Bank of America!

I finally get inside, but can barely deposit my checks because I am dancing I have to pee so badly.  I manage to get everything done.  I go out the back part of the building and I see.....a 7-11.  I feel like my problems are solved.  Air conditioning, water, and a place to pee.  At that moment it looked like the Taj Mahal.  It was my manna from heaven.

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