Thursday, Sep 1, 2011
By Rick Levine
You may be quite upbeat today, for you can tell that there are big changes ahead. Sometimes you prefer to retreat when things get hectic, but now you are eager to engage the energy head-on. You might realize that you've taken on more than you can manage, making these next few days intense. But one thing is certain: this could be your chance to feel the full passion of life.

Well, Mr. Levine, I'll give you credit for identifying a day that was full of life! And I AM feeling quite upbeat, though the big changes ahead are a bit daunting, still, they are exciting and good.

Today my son brought Supergirl for a playdate with the dogs. We went to the dog park in my apartment complex - just a small fenced area with mostly sun-baked grass, but the neighbors are really good about picking up poop, so it's remarkably clean. It was hot, and the ball game didn't last long - in 15 minutes Sophie was refusing to return the ball and walking to one of the semi-shading spots to stand there panting. Murphy will play until he keels over, but even he was looking stressed. So we ended the game and headed back to my place at around 10:30 a.m.

On the way back we passed a car with its engine running - we didn't notice it on our way to the dog park, but it could have been there at that time, as we walked through that area on a sidewalk a distance away on our way to the park.

We walked past the car and heard the engine running, but that's not unusual around here - lots of people start their cars and then remember they forgot something and go back to get it - I swear this town is Mayberry, nobody worries about somebody coming along and driving off in their car.

I was focused on the dogs and Supergirl (trying to keep the indefatigable Murphy from jumping on or tripping her while she walked along) and didn't give it a second thought, but after we walked past, my son paused and looked back. There was somebody in the running car. At first we just thought he was on the phone, or texting, but we watched for a minute or two and didn't see any movement at all. The car's engine was doing that revving, cycling thing it does when it has been idling a while. The figure behind the wheel was tilted sideways and very still. My son had Supergirl by the hand, so I approached the car with the dogs. A young guy in green hospital scrubs was slumped in the driver's seat, cellphone in hand. Oh, boy. I rapped on the window. No response. I rapped again, harder, and said loudly, "Hey, are you alright?"

After a minute he stirred, startled, and reflexively reached out to cut the engine. He opened the car door slowly, and I asked him again if he was okay. He said he was, and though he sounded groggy at first, the more he talked, the more normal he sounded. He was very freaked out and apologetic and embarrassed to find that he'd fallen asleep in his car, and explained that he'd worked a very long shift. We exchanged a few sentences and while he was still groggy he insisted he was fine. I asked him if he was sure, and if he needed help, and he insisted he was okay. So I retreated, but we waited a polite distance away until he got out of his car and made it across the parking lot and up the steps to his apartment. There were plenty of vacant spots right in front of the building by then but he was parked a distance away, which makes me think he got there in the wee hours of the morning when nearly every space is full (parking is an ongoing issue here).

The biggest hospital in this part of the state is maybe a mile or two as the crow flies from these apartments, and lots of hospital staff live here. I have no idea whether this guy is a resident or a nurse or a tech but he was wearing green scrubs and I got a glimpse of a hospital ID, and whatever his job, he obviously isn't getting enough sleep. If his car had stalled, the interior temp could have risen enough to kill him before anyone noticed. I'm glad my son spotted him - I totally didn't, and neither did the two maintenance guys who were about 100 yards away.

So, that was the Definitely Different part of the day. The rest of the visit was quite fun - Supergirl has a definite preference for Sophie, and the feeling is reciprocated. Murphy OTOH is still just annoying. He Would NOT Give Up. He chased her and pestered her and kissed her, and she didn't cry or get upset, she just treated him with contempt, which of course made the mad stalker in him just try harder to win her love. She loves Sophie and Sophie loves her, and today Sophie actually tried to initiate a game - she tried to get Supergirl to chase her, and then tried to play the "under the dust ruffle hide and seek" game. Supergirl thought it was really funny to watch her run around like a buggy-eyed little rocket but didn't understand the rules of the game. Plus, it was getting close to lunch and nap time, and she was getting tired. It was enough to see Sophie make her laugh, and see Sophie's joy interacting with her. They are BFFs. Murphy is the nerdy little guy with the bad breath, desperate to be part of their club, and too obsessed to realize that if he just SHUT UP and stopped acting crazy he'd be welcome.

I finally finished her Sweet Dreams Blankie and gave it to her while she was here. She loved it, hugged it, called it pretty, and solemnly posed for a photo:



She is 18 months old and scary smart and articulate for nowhere near two, and her personality is emerging - she's an opinionated little person already, and when denied something she desires launches into (rather forced) boo-hooing sobs of Drama. When that receives a calm response, she stops in under two minutes and changes the subject. She's a character, for sure. And she has decided that she likes Sophie best.