The Grizzly Zone

From time-to-time, we all find ourselves in a situation where we are asked to make trivial decisions. Generally, these trivial decisions involve the likes and dislikes of other people, and we want to make sure we make sure that we please EVERYONE.

"Everything is connected to everything else."

This was the first of "The Three Laws of the Universe". I'm reminded of it all the time, particularly when I find a link between two things I never thought would be connected.

"If you meet Buddha on the road, kill him."

The above saying has nothing to do with death or violence. It is a metaphor which is saying, among other things, that there is no easy path to enlightenment, and, if you find one, reject it, as it is false. Grasshopper.

Once, I went to O'Hare International Airport with my friend, Lee. We were to pick up a friend of his that was scheduled to arrive. I dropped Lee off in front of the terminal, with the hopes that he would find the friend and meet me back outside the terminal where I would be waiting in the car.

The minutes stretched on, and I had to go around a few times at the direction of the traffic cops. Eventually, the wait became more than an hour. I knew a place on the lower level where I might be able to park for a short time without getting towed, and I went into the terminal looking for Lee. Because this was an arriving passenger, I waited near the baggage claim area.

I was being "logical". Arriving passengers have to pick up their checked bags, so waiting for them at baggage claim was the right thing to do. Waiting at the gate after the plane had come in was illogical as the passengers would have gone on to baggage claim. And, as the passengers would be arriving, and the very nature of airport design steers arriving passengers away from ticketing and towards baggage claim, so ticketing would not bed a good spot to wait.

Of course, Lee and friend were not waiting at baggage claim. Or, the gate. They were waiting at ticketing. When I eventually met up with them, I was livid. I was doing the "logical thing"! How could they not see that?

Lee explained that his friend had no checked any bags and instead had carried his bags onto the plane. Because of that, they avoided the crowded baggage claim area, and waited at ticketing. (I don't remember what level I dropped them off at.)

Lee replied, "What is logical to you, is not necessarily what is logical to me." I named that my second life lesson.

If a loved one EVER says to you that they have something very important to tell you and they want to tell you on "The Jerry Springer Show", end the relationship right there, that very second and move away. You do NOT want to know!