New Year Resolutions

Launching into a new year, I can't help but be intrigued by resolutions. It just feels like a new page is being turned, fresh and unread with endless possibilities awaiting their turn to be written on the page. Even if the feeling fades after a while, there are a few sporadic days littered throughout the calendar year which serve as focal points that help me to remember that life truly can at any moment be changed. New Year's Day is one of them. 

Waking up on January 1st a few days ago, nature seemed to agree with my fresh start assessment. The sun shone so brightly out of a radiant blue sky illuminating the brilliant little crystals in the soft powdery snow. I wanted to fly. Instead, I headed off to the bakery to serve sweets and hot drinks to the throngs of tourists seeking brief respite from their skis and snowball fights. I was able to maintain a cheery composure throughout the day and here I am January 4th, still smiling, and attempting to make good on a resolution which I set down for myself at the beginning of the summer- to blog at least once a week and chronicle this time in my life. It is never too late.

So to start off this year, I will share a story that happened about a month ago. I think that it accurately represents my winter in the valley thus far. Cheers and Happy New Years to you all! May you also write, draw, collage, or paint all over this brand new page of a year.

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It all started with a pumpkin pie. "Here, take a second one!" My boss called out to me. "We really need to get rid of them, they're just not sellable anymore". "Okay!" I went back and grabbed another box. Now, you have to understand, I was born and raised in a certain kind of paradise, always 70 and sunny in the San Francisco Bay Area, so snow was a foreign concept to me, much less maneuvering a vehicle through two feet of it. That day was the day that Tanya Aspen met snow- hurrying home in time to feed the dogs to drive back into town to meet a friend for dinner, I came upon my driveway barricaded by a high berm, freshly made from the plow puling onto the main road. Hmmmm. Well, I've been driving through this stuff all day, I suppose if I gun it I will fly over the berm, safe to the other side, and I'll plow my way to the house. In my 2 wheel drive Toyota Corolla. That's got 250,000 miles on it. And a front headlight that's falling off, held together with clear packing tape. I floor the gas, give a Hail Mary, and thunk! I am stuck in the berm. Can't go forward, can't reverse. Shit. What do I do??? I assess the damage, consider my options, and decide to use a lifeline- my fiancee almost 1,000 miles away in Idaho. "Scott, this is what I did, what do I do?" I say half bemusedly into the phone. "Dig yourself out". "Okay!" So my mitten-less self goes to work, numb fingers begging for an end to the monotonous work of grabbing snow out from under the car. I hop back in, throw the car in reverse, car comes unstuck, happy ending! Almost. 

I park the car along the main road, wade knee deep in fresh soft powder to my doorstep, feed the dogs, change my socks, and trudge back to the car with dogs in tow. I make it back into town with barely minutes to spare in time to meet a friend for drinks and food. She just learned that she was offered a really neat place to rent, a place far more suitable for her and her three year old than her current situation. We are out to celebrate!! A number of beers later, I have hit my limit and I know I have to play it safe to make it back through the snow. I say goodbye to my girlfriend and start the trek home. 

Before turning the engine, I see that I have missed a call from my mom and decide to have her on speaker to keep me company on the drive back. We laugh about this and that, I tell her of the wintery wonderland surrounding my every turn when suddenly I spy several antlered shapes on the road directly ahead. Deer! Crap!! Instinctively, I put on the brake- just slightly, as I have been told numerous times by many a-sneering local- and immediately begin to slide to the right toward a deep ditch. Breathe. Don't panic. Course correct. I attempt to steer back to the left. Course correct! COURSE CORRECT!!!! I AM COURSE CORRECTING! The two sides of my brain scream at each other, trying to keep the inevitable from happening. And for the second time that day, a familiar thunk! lets me know that I am unequivocally stuck. 

Huh. Well, I am in a ditch. Now what? Do I call 911? The tow company? Who do I know with a pick up? I call my friend who I had dinner with- she is a local and might know what to do. No answer. I call Scott for the second time that day. "Sweetheart, I am stuck in a ditch!" "Okay, are you safe?" "Yes." "Okay, how far are you from home?" "Not far." "Okay, can you dig yourself out?" "No." "Okay...." and it goes like this, running through my list of options. A few people stop to offer their advice- call the tow truck or the insurance company- and then head back on their way to their nice warm homes and families. Gahhhhh! Stupid deer!! "Scott, now I see why you tell me never to brake for them in the snow, they will cause you to skid! Bah!" "I know babe, well, just try to cal the tow truck, start from there, let me know how it goes. Love you, bye." I duck back into my nice warm car with the heater on, trying to forget that my front end is nose dived and my back end is sticking up into the air. 

I see a pair of narrow set lights making their way toward me from down the road. Narrow lights, could be a plow! Oh glory hallelujah! I step out of the car, if at the very least to entice the driver with my long hair and legs. Something did the trick because to my astonishment the plow stopped. It's just the way it is in small towns, I am beginning to learn, long legs or no. "Oh wow, you sure are in a pickle!" The driver says and moves straight to work to figure out a solution without me even asking or saying a word. Within minutes he has a tow rope fastened securely around some part of the undercarriage and is surging forward with my car in tow. Righted back on the main road, my spirit soaring, I am beyond words in gratitude for this night road angel. "What's you name?" "Joe". "Joe, I'm Aspen, thank you sooooo much! Can I give you money? A pie??" "Oh no no no, just meeting you and being able to help you is joy enough." "Oh no, I need to give you a pie. Thank you so much!" I pop the trunk and reach for the extra pumpkin pie. "It may not look the best", I warn, "but it sure will taste good!" Joe was unbelievably speechless by this act of pie kindness, as though I had done him a favor. My heart swelled from the effect of the kindness from this incredible road angel. Could he be a servant of some deity up there sent down to right us all on our paths when we are lead astray? The timing and the sheer luck of it all had my hair standing on end. Gratitude, the most amazing drug of choice available today. 

To top it all off, when I finally reached home I came to another plow ferociously maneuvering in the driveway from the road to my house. Who is this second night angel to grace my life here in the valley? It's the base loft manager, who, true to his word, is working after hours to plow a way for me into the house. I was almost brought to tears when he puled down his window and said "I told you I would be here!" These acts of kindness are too much. "Do you want a pie? No, seriously, I want to give you this pumpkin pie, it's from the bakery." "Aspen, you don't have to give me a pie, I am being paid to do this. Plus, you and Scott are wonderful people and we are glad you are here." I am floored speechless. Reject my pie and then slather on more love and kindness? It was too much. I called Scott for the eleventy billionth time and sobbed heavy heaving sobs, just so grateful for this life that has materialized around us, keeping us safe and happy in the valley. As for angels, I think that they come to us and show themselves to us when we are most in need. They are ALWAYS there , they just step into the light a bit more when the situation calls. Or perhaps when there is an extra pie lying around.