Have you ever felt completely and utterly lost?
What a day guys. Today is one of my days off from work, but I was asked to come in so I did. Got to work at 9am. My badge doesn't allow me access to buildings. In other words, when a door is locked I must knock and hope that someone comes to my rescue. It's not too much of a hassle. I just feel like I bother people when I knock. Right so back to the story. My mom dropped me off and the front door was locked. I went around the back to find that that door was locked as well. I walked upstairs to knock on that locked door. After getting into the building for work, I spent an hour reorganizing flyers, throwing out old ones, and creating my plan of attack. I had six cities to travel to. Handing out stacks of flyers to any business that would allow me to. I am not the best person when it comes to directions and places. So I Google mapped the city halls of each city and put them into order to make a nice little route for myself. Figured as long as I start at the City Hall I will be able to find surrounding business.
My first stop was the Covina library. I arrived there around 10:15am. On the way there, a box in the back seat managed to invert itself. After I parked I got out and opened the door to fix the mess of flyers. That's when they all decided to fall out of the Tahoe and mock me as they lay next to my feet. It wasn't even Covina's flyers. 5 minutes later . . . I walked around to enter the library where I found a man laying out front. He told me that the library isn't open till noon. Back to the car. I couldn't afford to make a trip back after noon so I drove around to random business around the area.
I then hit up Glendora. At this point the temperature read a scorching 115 degrees. I realize this may not be terribly hot to some of you friends, but for where I live that is mighty hot! I walked up and down the streets leaving small stacks with local businesses. Then to La Verne. At this point I had been to cleaners, Verizon stores, gyms, Taco Bell, 31 Flavors, Sports Challet, pet shops, city halls, libraries, etc. When I finally finished La Verne I headed to Claremont.
Claremont I knew would be my biggest challenge. Most cities had a few stacks of flyers. Claremont had two full boxes of flyers! I walked up and down the streets. Moved the car to Claremont City Hall and then walked to the library and other busnesses. I moved the car a few streets over and did the same. I hadn't really stopped to eat. I had eaten an egg, some tapioca, 1/2 a snack size bag of cheese crackers, 1/2 a banana, and some of a caramel apple. The ac in the car was blowing out cool to room temp to warm air. The left vent was only blowing at half power if that. I tried to think cool, but I couldn't stop sweating. I moved the car again. The street parking was full so this time I went to a small parking lot somewhat hidden away. That was a big mistake. I left my back pack in the car, but luckily took my phone with me. As I walked store to store I realized I was getting close to hitting where I was before I moved the car. So I turned a corner and went down another street. I wasn't feeling too good. It was past 2pm, the time I was scheduled to work til. I told myself after this box of flyers I would go back to the office and be done for the day. Did this happen? Of course NOT!
I couldn't remember where I had parked the car. The company car mind you! I had to stop to sit to try to think, cool down, and catch a breath of warm air. My memory isn't the sharpest, but today something was really off. I couldn't remember anything. Everything started to look the same. I started to panic. I walked around for 20 minutes looking for the car. I wasn't sure what to do so I called my mom up. She told me to wait by city hall and she would come help me. What help would she be if she doesn't know the area? Or what stores I had been to? What the car looks like? She said at least I wouldn't be out in the heat. I didn't want her to come so she gave me ten more minutes. I'm sure you all guessed it. I didn't find the car within those 10 minutes. With every parking lot I passed without seeing the car my heart beat faster. I felt incredibly lost. I didn't know what to do.
Waiting for my mom I made my way back to a store I had previously asked if I could leave flyers. The two women saw me and instantly knew something wasn't right. They sat me down and gave me some water. It was nice to be able to sit in a nice cool room. I couldn't remember anything. I explained my dilema and how I remember coming in their store maybe 40-50 minutes prior. She was surprised when I said that. She told me it had been at least an hour and 40 minutes since she had last seen me. That kind of freaked me out. Not the best with judging time, but I am normally off maybe 20 minutes max. So to be off by a whole hour?? They were telling my I had probably suffered from heat exhaustion/stroke almost. The three of us chatted until I saw my mom drive by. I was to meet her at City Hall so I walked on over there. After thanking the two women of course.I am so grateful that she came to get me because I wasn't feeling good. I had a huge headache. My stomache was upset due to lack of food and downing water too fast. My body was wet with sweat. As she was driving me around it started to rain. Not even drizzle, that part was skipped. Then it grew to a harder rain. We drove up and down the streets. My head was throbbing and I couldn't seem to think straight. After maybe 10 minutes we found it! Thank goodness!! We drove back to the office so I could return the car and she could take me home. The car ride back was hot and stuffy, but at least I had found the car and gotten it back to work safely.
Throughout my walking around cities I held doors open to men and women that had their hands full. Whether it be suitecases, ice creams, coffee, mail, etc. I held the doors because I know what it's like to struggle to enter/exit a place with my arms full. The two women that gave me water told me this is the good karma coming back to me. Since I helped people when I didn't need to I got to sit on a nice chair in a cool room and drink water when I needed help. Before I used to hold doors only if people were behind me. Now I'd say I go out of my way to hold doors open for others. I offer a helping hand when I see someone could use one. Even if I know I won't be much help. It's the thought and actions that count in these situations.I now get to go to work at 10am instead of 3pm so I can go back to Claremont to hand out the rest of the flyers as well as Chino and Chino Hills. I think I may need to swap cars so I get nice cool ac. Lesson learned though. I must always take a photo or jot down where I parked. That way if next time I pass out and hit my head, someone will be able to help me!
Do me a favor. The next time you see someone struggling to open a door give em a hand. What would you lose, a few seconds? What would you gain, a smile a thank you? It's a very small price to pay for such a rewarding action.
ALG
