Expect the unexpected has become my new moto. Just as I was counting the days until my departure for Portugal, the EU decided to exclude Americans from their list of welcome visitors. Then, last Saturday while riding my bike to the fish market, a very large SUV pulled out of a side street and knocked me over.
My right elbow, knee and ankle got scraped on the road and the bike fell on my left side causing bumps and bruises. I was lucky. Marc, the driver was very apologetic and kind, helping me up and putting ice on my wounds. He placed my mangled bike in the back of his truck and drove me home. He gave me money to buy a new bike and his phone number to update him on my condition.
Back in May when I finally found my bike, I discovered most places were sold out of them and once I started looking for a replacement, I saw the shortage was still in place. I decided to drive to a nearby Walmart on the off chance they would have one. And there it was — one lone adult bike, the size and style I was looking for, assembled and ready to ride. How lucky is that!
It was only after I excitedly bought it, I realized it wouldn’t fit in my car. I sat in my back seat in the blazing sun of the parking lot to consider my options. Remembering his SUV, I looked in my phone to see if I could figure out which number was Marc’s. He answered on the second ring saying he was in the area and happy to help. Ten minutes later he’d loaded my new golden Huffy into his truck and we were on our way home.
I thanked God, my guardian angel and my fairy godmother along with Marc and thought again about how lucky I am. Even though I got hit, I’m healthy and mobile. Even though I’ve been stranded in Florida for 111 days, I’ve been staying in a beautiful peaceful place. Even though I had flights this month to Montreal and Lisbon which once more will be cancelled, Peru is starting to open up and the possibility of a repatriation flight is more promising.
It’s a blessing to see and feel how lucky I am because perspective is everything in this odd and wonderful moment in our history. Now I can laugh when my plans require revision, choosing what makes life easiest under the circumstances. Expecting the unexpected, I can be grateful for whatever comes.
July 4, 2020