From the Observation Deck

The other day I got a ticket. First one in 15 years. I can’t say I didn’t deserve it and considering all the times I got away with stuff, I guess I was due. But there was something about this experience that was just plain wrong.

Here’s how it went down. A nice, young, good looking police officer pulls me over and says I entered an area where only the metro buses can go. I guess I got confused with all the other cars there. So I go wading through the paperwork that has piled up in my glove compartment looking for the most recent version of my registration. He says to give him a shout when I find it. Ten minutes later I hand him an expired slip, tell him it really is all up to date—I just filed the paperwork at home. He says okay.

This next part is new to me. He says, “What color eyes do you have?” To which I turned and smiled up at him and replied, “They’re brown.” Then he did it. He asked me how much I weighed. I paused. Then in total shock said, “What? Are you serious? Not-uh.” He looked ashamed (as he should) and said he had to ask. I then replied, “Reeeeaaally?” The tone of that last statement was part disbelief and part pleading. So I swallowed any remaining ounce of self-worth I had and answered him. And in three months if I try really hard, I might just lose enough to be at the number I told him.

Just now as I’m writing this, I have the horrid realization that not only did I have to tell a complete stranger—a man—what my weight was, but he WROTE IT DOWN. It’s now in triplicate filed away in some courthouse for the world to see. Holy crap.

As you can probably tell, I’m more upset about the whole weight question then getting the ticket. And I’m not sure how much that’ll cost me yet, so I think it’s time for a xanax and relaxing bath.

The incident ended with me getting “off” for not having my registration paperwork in the car but I did get the other ticket which was for “disobeying a sign.” It’s not like the sign stood in front of me pointing its finger saying, “Dawn, I’m warning you, don’t go in there or officer X is going to give you a ticket!” I didn’t stick out my tongue and willfully go by it on purpose. It was a mistake. And now I feel like some little kid who’s being punished. I thanked the officer and then said, “Wait, not thank you, I mean…” He smiled and said, “I know what you mean, it’s okay.” Hmmph. Maybe for him. Oh well, at least I didn’t drive through a mall.

When I got laid off last year I stopped watching the news because it was too depressing. I couldn’t stand to see the unemployment rate go up. And now that I’m back to work I haven’t had the time to catch up on what’s been going on. I used to be astounded at people who were completely unaware of current events.

I’m ashamed about how I’ve been living in the Dawn bubble and thinking about ways to spend my money while so many are suffering. People all over the world suffer every day but the situation in Haiti is so much worse than what I imagined. I avoided the news because it seemed to be just another natural disaster that happens frequently in our world. And maybe I didn’t want to face such depressing news.

But on Saturday I heard someone on the radio mention a death toll in the hundreds of thousands. That blew me away. And at the beginning of the weekend church service when we gathered in small groups to pray for the people in Haiti, I realized just how out-of-the-loop I was and the enormous magnitude of this tragedy.

So I apologize for recent posts in which I discussed such material things. It’s not that I don’t think people should be happy and be able to purchase things and travel, it’s just that it’s a bit tacky to be discussing them just days into such a tragedy. With that in mind, I’m going to seek out some ways to help the victims and pray for the rescuers to be able to get to the people and save as many as possible.

If anyone has suggestions on how to help or stories about how others or you have helped, please share them!

The Christmas tree is coming down. I hate to say goodbye to the beautiful lights and neat decorations. But, if we kept them up all year it wouldn’t be special. And people might think I’m weird.

It was a great holiday season. I really had a wonderful time with my family. I know not everyone gets along with their families and some are missing family members that are far away or no longer with us. If you’re one of those, I just hope you were (and in the future are) able to find people to share the time with and to enjoy Christmas and the New Year.

My decorations are coming down but at least I can walk around my neighborhood and enjoy the lights of those who refuse to go out without a fight. You know, those neighbors who keep their lights going through the better part of the winter (and some to the edge of spring). You go people.

My cats are a little upset. Their inside forest is going away. But at least they have a few more days to sit on the storage boxes and lick the masking tape. I don’t know why I spend money on expensive cat toys when all I need to give them is a strip of tape and rubber bands to make them happy.

So now it’s time to get back on the diet, fight the urge to eat sugar cookies, and snuggle in for a new season of Lost, American Idol, and more. Maybe I should TiVo it all and go write a book. Or volunteer somewhere. Or run a marathon. Or. Oh forget it. I hate resolutions. Do it or not. But whatever you do, have a happy 2010!