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03/04/05
Dear TwinkleGrammers,
So, I'm checking in at the airport for my flight home from Sioux Falls SD (Howdy you newly TwinkleGramming WILD Sioux Falls ladies!) and I learn that I am "selected for extra security" because I was expired. Okay, she didn't say *I* was expired; she said my photo identification was expired. Which was my Illinois Driver's license (IDL).
But … things were not as they appeared since there was more to the story. "More" Check-In Lady did not know.
"NO!" I said, probably way too emphatically. "Please don't tell me (hear sigh between words and see me drop my head into my hand) I've been selected for extra security because my driver's license is expired when it ISN'T!" I took my license (hard plastic), TURNED IT OVER and showed her that in Illinois, we do not get new IDLs just because they are expired; we get a "Certificate of Extension" that sticks on the BACK of the IDL showing the new expiration date. Not only was mine valid, but I WAS ALIVE! (To see how odd this situation is—not that I'm alive, but the IDL "extension" thing—you can view a sample IDL "extension" at https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/SafeDriverWeb/welcome.jsp)
How could she know that The Truth lurked on the flip side?
There wasn't a single thing on the front of the license that said, "Please turn this over if it's expired." How could someone working in SD expect to know that in IL, at first glance, The Truth isn't visible?!
Since I traveled on two month-long book tours last year and was often selected for "extra screening," (now I ask you, who looks shiftier than ME?), I assumed—and most often correctly, I'm sure—that it was because I was always traveling on one-way tickets. (Memo to the bad guys: buy a round-trip ticket. Duh.) Now I'm wondering ….
From here on in, when dealing with Officials, I shall FIRST be handing them my driver's license upside down with the explanation that they are looking at my renewal sticker and I am not expired. Then they can turn it over to see that I am me. (Okay, there is a slight fudge on my weight and I have more gray hair and less length to it and more wrinkles—the "good" part of those "extensions" since they FREEZE YOUR FACE IN A TIME CAPSULE!—but other than that, it is me.)
Well now, there are so many metaphorical layers to this story I hardly know where to begin, so let me just ask you some questions:
- Do you always the assume The Truth is obvious?
- Do you try to see the flip side of things – ANYTHING?
- Do you believe you are "expired" just because somebody tells you it is so?
- Do you understand that what is "obvious" to one person is completely NOT to another? (Hello! Anyone with a husband already knows this!)
- Do you live in a state that is MORE SENSIBLE?!
- If you live in IL and do much traveling, has it occurred to you that it might make sense to pay the extra bucks for a NEW IDL???!!!!! (Just occurred to me; good thing I kept writing! But then there is that freeze-frame of a face to consider …)
John 8:32 "…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
END OF "KNOWING THE TRUTH" THOUGHTS AND THE BEGINNING OF RESPONSES TO THE LAST TWINKLEGRAM
In my last TwinkleGram (you can go to the archives at www.dontmissyourlife.com/words.html if you're a new subscriber) I talked about … okay, dental floss. But what I was REALLY talking about was questioning our assumptions as to when we're being stingy (dental floss, forgiveness, time …), and awakening to the fact we *can* be LAVISH about some things. Here are a few of your responses (BLESS THOSE OF YOU WHO TALK BACK!!!!) about … dental floss and lavishness.
*The other ridiculous thing I used to do - keep dishrags at the sink until they were old and smelly; I HATED touching them but never thought to - DUH! - throw them in the wash every day! Or maybe 2 a day! What's a few more dish rags with a load of towels? Lavish, lavish! I'm living lavishly now!
* "Something I am stingy on -- use of plastic zip-loc bags. Yes, that's what I said, zip-loc baggies. I've been washing them out & reusing them to save money. I still wash the gallon size ones, but not the sandwich ones. It seems silly when I put it in writing!!" (Charlene responds: I think you're being a good steward of your money and resources. However, recognizing the day when it DOES need to be tossed is the key! And sometimes even when used ones don't look dirty, they ARE—as evidenced by the recent smell that wafted out of one of my do-overs!)
*"I have been skimping on communication with you!" (Charlene responds: I AM SO GLAD YOU HAVE AWAKENED!)
*"I just realized I was skimping on giving GLORY to God, and my time spent with Him."
*" I am not a routine flosser and despite several years of scoldings, I still think it is gross. (But the guck that comes our of your teeth is even grosser, this I fully realize)". (Charlene responds: BLAAAAAAAACH!)
*" Have you ever tried the new Hummingbird flosser from Oral-B? I love it and now I want to floss each day, thus ending my stress and guilt about daily flossing.
Hummmmmmmm."
(Charlene responds with a disclaimer: No, I get NO financial endorsement nor do I have any professional ties with any products mentioned herein--although my curiosity is now seriously piqued!)
*" Just want to be sure you've tried (or reasonably ruled out) Glide floss. It's made of the same stuff as GoreTex clothing -- and in my experience is utterly shred-proof, catch-proof, annoyance-proof."
*"A lot of the times I use [MY SON'S] scoopy doo floss creatures...they are so fun...maybe you should try those and then you don't even have to pull...." (Charlene responds: "scoopy doo"! Well now, THAT sounds like an appliance that could get down in the crevices between my teeth!)
Again, THANK YOU to the many kind folks who responded. I love to know I'm not alone!
If you know anyone who could use this TwinkleGram's little reminder that there might be MORE to the story (whatever story they're currently living) than they know, please pass this along!
And STAY TUNED! I'm sending out a Special Edition TwinkleGram tomorrow. Big George and I are conducting another drawing for a set of Dearest Dorothy books (www.welcometopartonville.com) and the winner will be announced. All you have to do to enter is be a TWINLKEGRAM SUBSCRIBER by NOON TOMORROW! If someone has passed this along to you, you can subscribe at www.dontmissyourlife.com/words.html
Peace and grins until we "chat" again!
Charlene
Don't Miss Your Life because you haven't looked for it!
Charlene Ann Baumbich
I'M ALIVE!
Right here in
ILLINOIS, USA My IDL SAYS SO!
Web site: http://www.welcometopartonville.com
E-mail: charlene@dontmissyourlife.com
To Read About the Dearest Dorothy Books, Click HERE!
TwinkleGram Archives
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Don't forget to check in every once in a while to see what’s on Charlene’s mind. From the profound to the pathetic, she's happy to have her own non-edited corner in which to ramble on about whatever she'd like whenever the mood strikes her - which might be sooner or later! Or, subscribe to the TwinkleGram and have it delivered fresh to your email - just click the "Subscribe to the TwinkleGram" link at the top of this page.
©Notice: Materials on this page are © by Charlene Baumbich 2003-2005
Friday, July 28, 2006
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