Two by Two

Accidents happen. In the past two months, I've found myself in two car accidents. The first in Haiti, and now, the second one here in Montana where I totaled my car on the interstate just a few days ago.

Since the beginning of 2010, I've had many experiences to help keep my life and it's blessings in perspective. I personally feel, like I've gone through quite a journey of enlightenment since January and came out on the right side with a good attitude. I am a happy, blessed person who is thankful on a daily basis for where my path in life has taken me at the current time. Work, Haiti, personal relationships and family have all played a large role in this.

So, my question now is, why did I need another experience? I feel I am living life as it was intended for me, so why did I have to be in a car accident that could have ended my life? All people who have seen my car say they are amazed I walked away from it with minor injuries. Sure, I have bumps, bruises, cuts, aches, pains, and probably a mild concussion, but I am walking & talking and not in a hospital bed. And, I am alive.

They tell me I am supposed to write or journal about my accident. That it's supposed to make me feel better. I just want to return to Friday and make the whole accident go away - if only I'd of stopped at Wheat Montana for lunch, if only I'd of left Helena a few minutes later, if only I'd of just run over that stupid tarp instead of swerving to miss it, you can imagine the amounts of 'if only's' in my head. I didn't need another damn wake up call in life, so why I am still having them? Really, I've had enough. I'm not ready to leave this earth, and obviously it's not my time, so just give up already!

Flag Day

Today in the United States it is Flag Day. Funny enough, but I sure couldn't tell on my way to work! Now, let's do a quick comparison to Flag Day in Haiti, shall we?

Flag Day was May 18th. Flag Day is an important holiday for Haitians. There is no school or work, and all schedules are paused to take a day to celebrate and remember the country's history of struggle and freedom. I had forgotten that Flag Day was in May, and it put a kink in my plans during my trip as I couldn't get any work done. So, instead, I went to have fun and join the crowd!

Driving around PAP, there were flags everywhere! The blue and red colors were vibrant and well displayed while Haitians celebrated and partied the day away late into the night. In the afternoon, my driver took me to Fort Jacques in the mountains above PAP. This was one of two forts built to protect PAP. It took awhile to get there, but once we did - I was amazed! There were hundreds of people with street vendors selling an abundance of food and drinks and loud music pumping from the large flatbed trailer with huge speakers. It was about 3pm, and this party probably didn't stop until the early hours of the morning. From the fort, you have an amazing view of the city and the bay. We climbed all around the fort (unfortunately damaged by the earthquake) and the old cannons. It is in a national forest area, so there are tons of hiking trails to explore to imagine what Haiti was like during the revolution.

One thing that never fails to amaze me is a Haitian's pride for their country. Haiti was the first black independent republic in the world after gaining their independence from France in 1804 during a slave revolt. The flag was sewn by a lady names Catherine Flon, and it has gone through a few transitions over the years. It is red and blue with a white square which includes the coat of arms of Haiti with the national motto "L'Union Fait La Force" meaning "unity makes strength."

So, even though we don't celebrate our flag day in the same fashion as the Haitians, may all Americans take a moment to remember what our flag stands for today - independence, liberty, justice, a nation undivided, and opportunity. May we be as proud of our flag and the land in which we live. May we be thankful for the sacrifices made by our ancestors which gives us the chance to grow and prosper in America. And, may we remember that our country's history might have been very different if it hadn't been for the Haitian slave revolt . . . imagine our flag with less then fifty stars . . .

It's All in Perspective

This past Tuesday, my father called me with some unfortunate news. Sundance, the love of my life and constant feline companion for 12 years, passed away during his retirement at the family farm. Sundance was about 12 pounds of orange fluffy love with lots of character. I know Sundance was a special cat and touched many people's lived besides mine as the memories rolled in on facebook comments: eating plants, cat fights (too many to count), Lauren's first and only court appearance to date, the trailer house shenanigans, oh the list is endless.

Kelly, Nicole and I picked out Sundance from the Humane Society in Bozeman in July after we graduated high school. I remember the afternoon like it was yesterday - how I asked which cat had been there the longest (they pointed to his cage). I opened his door, and he crawled right up my arm and curled up around my neck. It was love at first sight. He came directly home with me and then hid under the bed for two days. I think we were a match made in Heaven - tough, stubborn, independent - wait . . . am I talking about Sundance or myself? Anyways, we were two of a kind from the start. He was by my side to get me through everything in life, even my time in Haiti.

Yes, even when I think of Haiti, I think of Sundance. One afternoon when I lived there, I was having a very bad day. I finished teaching, went to my room and laid down on my bed and cried. And I cried. I was mad, frustrated, full of emotion. All of a sudden, my bed moved - it felt as if a cat had just jumped on my bed. Cat?!? There weren't any cats in my bedroom at the time. I sat straight up and yelled Sundance. Of course, he was not there. However, in that moment, I knew he was thinking of me and trying to console me from afar as he had done many times before. We were connected with each other. He was always there to sit on my lap or lay on my chest to try to cheer me up when life threw me a curve ball. I am really going to miss my little buddy. There will never be another Sundance.