Terrible tiny troubles

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

Today I was filled to the brim with tiny troubles — you know how sometimes you can shoulder the big stuff while the smallest trifles seem too much to bear? 

Zing was coughing a lot, so I called the vet, who referred me to the Doggie ER.(Really, Zing? Must you??? ) So I put the (imaginary) siren and twirling lights on Rosa’s roof and we flashed out to some suburban office space. Of course, the vet staff was ebullient and they adored Zing. How can they be so bubbly? They gave him a cough suppressant and sent us home. To get to know the city, we drove down Folsom Boulevard rather than taking the freeway: warehouses, trailer parks, a “transformation studio,” and apartments — then small plain houses, followed by their fancier cousins, a hospital, and finally midtown. Hey! I’m learning! We passed some promising restaurants, a Trader Joe’s and next to that Cassi’s favorite pet store, where Zing suggested we turn in for treats. 

When we got home I pushed the button to turn off the dishwasher, which I’d turned on at bedtime. The dishes were clean, but the thing wouldn’t turn off.  I called yesterday’s plumber (“24-hour service!”), and told my troubles to the answering machine. Owner’s Manual to the rescue! Except not for this. OK -- Google! which told me “the machine is in flood mode.” These are not easy words to absorb when you are machine-stupid. I think I heard Gabriel’s trumpet. Or was it Noah?

Earlier Mona had suggested I turn off the breaker switch (is that the right term?). I have always stayed far away from that box thing, fearing that if I flip the wrong switch the whole town and maybe the world will go dark. I know — to you it’s probably laughable. Eventually, thanks to YouTube, I did flip the correct switch (#15), and the plumber will be here Monday. 

Toward evening Zing and I walked around Freeport Boulevard, home of the pink-box bakery and the donut shop. One was closed, one was open, so there will be sweet rolls for breakfast, and they’ll make my tiny troubles go away.


I hope yours do too!

Love,
k