From the Stars

According to Rob Brezsny, there's an odd paradox about my fate in 2005.

He says, "You will get as close to your true home as you have ever been, and yet you'll also be teased and intrigued by a provocative mystery. Let me say it another way: More than at any other time in your life, you will feel like you truly belong here--and yet you'll often be amazed at how enigmatic everything is. I'll give you one more angle on the confounding security that will visit you in the coming months: You'll have an uncanny sense of being cared for by a mother goddess, even as you keep delving further than ever before into the riddles of your unpredictable destiny."

In case you haven't caught on, Rob is a horoscope writer. I enjoy reading the stars, but am generally dubious of what horoscopes say. But for some reason I actually *have* been feeling a little more grounded in where I am, despite the holiday frenzy. Maybe because there really isn't any. It's the first holiday in seven years that I'm not worrying about what plane I have to catch or if I'll be able to stuff all of my omiyage in one suitcase (although, I will admit that I enjoy the excitement and going through hell before I finally make it home to see my family...Strange, huh?). I think it's also that I recently had a huge wave of anxiety and am finally coming down from it. It comes and goes, and then I'm better for a few weeks. I'm hoping it'll keep getting better and the waves will get smaller and smaller.

Are the lights on?

I've been taking highway 101 to and from work the past two months. It's hell sitting in traffic, especially when you feel like your bladder is about to burst. And it always seems to happen right when you get around the Milbrae area. Anyway, I finally decided to take the advice of a prodding few and finally embarked on the most liberating journey along I280. I kept putting it off, because in my experience I280 is not as well lit as 101. Yes, I know that's what headlights are for...But anyway. You'd think that people would tell you if your lights weren't on. Because when I finally found my way on to 1280 from Sand Hill Road and was cruising along the highway, I noticed how DARK it really was...And then I noticed that I had been driving without my lights on! *sigh*

What can I say? I haven't been driving for very long since getting back from Japan. So, here are a list of reminders I have to give myself:

--Don't forget to turn your lights on at night.
--Make sure the car is in DRIVE mode and NOT REVERSE when you want to pull into a parking spot with a car waiting behind you.
--Don't overestimate how much room you have and force yourself into the wheel of a big moving van with a big buff guy trying to lift a heavy box in it (he came out and looked like he was going to punch someone--luckily he saw it was me and abandoned the idea).
--Always make sure the car is in PARK when you want to get out (I worked up a sweat trying to pull that damned key out!).


So that's that. Feel free to drop any other suggestions on what I should pay attention to while driving.