Downs And Ups .............

Maybe it's because I just passed my Sixth Anniversary as a transplant recipient. Maybe it's because we just passed Thanksgiving - the used-to-be get-together-with-the-family Holiday. Maybe it's because today was one of those cold, overcast days that are harbingers of the coming winter. Whatever the reason, I left my house this morning in a mood.

I wouldn't call it depressed. I'm not one of those people who spend a lot of time questioning things, and I never feel sorry for myself. Still, I guess, everyone must feel down every now and then.

I stopped at the Library a little after 9 and found that they wouldn't be open until 10. Down.

 I stopped at Shoprite and picked up a box of decaffeinated tea bags. I stopped for the paper. I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and had a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel with butter and a medium decaf coffee. I had a book with me and sat by the window to eat. There was not enough butter on the bagel. Down.

I got back to the Library at 10 to 10 and they'd opened already. I went in to print out my checking account statement but they changed things. You now have to have a Library Card in order to access the system. I have a card. It didn't work. Down.

I waited at the main desk and renewed my card, then logged in, printed my statement, and left. I decided to head towards the Metuchen Library and took Avenel towards Chain-of-Hills. Along the way, I passed this woman.

She's a fixture in this neighborhood. I've seen her walking around here for years. I've heard that she lives in a nearby SRO and that she carries all of her possessions with her because she's afraid to leave anything in her room. A sad story. A Down.

 I drove on. I decided to head up through the Clara Barton section, which would take a little longer, but I now had my radio tuned to CBS-FM and they were playing their traditional Top 500 for the weekend. That always makes me feel good. Up.

Along Amboy Avenue, I passed by this guy sitting on a bench in front of a Senior Citizen's Home.

I'm sure he had a story. I wondered, briefly, what it was. There he was all bundled up and sitting in the cold, all alone. It looked like a sad story. Down.

I pulled up in front of the Library in Metuchen, and saw this man walking towards it.

Another guy, carrying some books, looking all alone. I imagined that he walked up here - maybe weekly - to take out some other books. Another sad story. Down.

I went inside and headed towards the sale books. I noticed the guy from outside was now at the main desk, returning the books. As I browsed, the guy went past me, humming, and went upstairs to the meeting room. I heard voices greeting him. I walked over there and read the sign - there was a meeting of the local Historical Society going on. This guy wasn't alone after all. Up.

That's when I realized that I'd let my own mood color how I saw things. Maybe the guy in the Clara Barton section wasn't alone either. Maybe he was waiting for someone to pick him up. Up.

And, maybe there was more to the story of that old woman in Avenel then the locals knew about. At least now I was willing to entertain that thought. Up.

I went back to the sale books and picked out two. As I left, I held the door for a woman coming in, probably to attend the meeting. She thanked me. Up.

Then, as I headed towards my car, I saw another woman carrying a couple of bags. I offered to help but she said it was OK. Still, I went back and held the door. She thanked me  and said that the bags held some cupcakes that she'd baked for the meeting. Up.

I drove home feeling better. Everybody has moods. Everybody has a story. And we tend to allow our moods to affect those stories. Everybody has ...

Downs and Ups.

No Real Plan For The Day ..............

Yesterday was overcast and foggy, but warmer. Today, we have a cold front starting but it's sunny. I went out early.

I had a few things to do but no real plan for the day.

I stopped at Shoprite and picked up the paper and my lottery tickets. I drove into Avenel to pay my cable bill. I parked on Lord Street and walked over. They weren't open yet but they have a drop-box out front for payments. As I walked up, I noticed this guy down along the side of the building.

I was ready as I walked back.

Point, press, Flash.

I got to my car and drove to the Post Office to mail my electric bill. (I know, I could pay this - and other bills - online but, frankly, I'm leery about doing that. I'm all in favor of modernization but - in some cases - I prefer to stick with what I know.)

I drove back towards St. George's Avenue and Dunkin' Donuts, for breakfast. On the way down Avenel Street, I came up behind this UPS truck.

Here's another annoyance that I come across while driving. These guys stop wherever they want. In this case, he was blocking the through lane. I waited till I could pass then ..

Point, press, Flash.

I realized later that by taking out his engine he'd be blocking traffic for a while but it was satisfying when I did it.

I enjoyed my breakfast and took the rest of my coffee with me. Today being a Thursday, the Thrift Store I like up in South Plainfield had their weekly card-holders-only sale. I'm going to a Brunch Cruise out of Perth Amboy on Sunday to celebrate a family member's birthday and, since it's supposed to be cold, I thought I'd look for a heavy sweater.

I took Chain-of-Hills Road and came up behind this person.

I didn't have a clear view and there was a merge with New Dover Road just ahead. I drove on by.

On a whim, I made a left on Grove and stopped at the North Edison Library. I picked up a mystery that has Mark Twain as the hero. I gotta admit that I'm a sucker for fiction that uses historical people as central characters. I headed back down Grove to Oak Tree when I came across this guy.

I knew he was surveying something and I also knew that he had a partner that he could see but I couldn't. I drove on, made the right on Oak Tree, and stopped at the Thrift Store. I picked up a nice, heavy, green sweater for $6. Feeling good, I decided to swing by the library in Metuchen.

I know the way there but not the street names. Along the way I came across this guy.

These landscape guys are a pet peeve of mine and here was one using a ride-on leaf blower in the street. I looked around but saw no one else.

Point, press, Flash.

I skipped the Metuchen library and just headed home.

I took 27 to Middlesex Turnpike and got back on Chain-of-Hills. Around one of the curves I came up behind this guy.

An isolated stretch of road and another annoyance.

Point, press, Flash.

I continued on, towards home.

Sometimes, the best plan is to have ....

no real plan for the day.