It Could Happen to Anyone

Today I'm taking a break from my usual subject matter to share with you an article published this week in the Town Messenger in Hutto, Texas.

Penned by Yours Truly, it is a true account of a recent experience I had involving my car, a camera, and a $75 ticket.

Enjoy. But not too much. :)

It Could Happen to Anyone - 

The Good News & Bad News of Getting Busted on Camera

by: Rachael Wilkins

It finally happened. I had heard of it happening to other people, but like so many other things we hear about, you don’t really believe it until it happens to you. And it happened to me. I always thought that if it did happen to me, it would happen in some big metro area, not in a little community like Hutto, TX. But here is where it did happen.
 

They say Hutto is a small town with big ideas, and that is precisely what popped into my head and out of my mouth when it happened.
 

“Hey! What’s the big idea?”
 

There I was, minding my own business, sorting through the mail - bill, bill, advertisement - when there it was. A letter from the City of Hutto addressed to yours truly.  “Hmmm, I wonder what they want?”
 

I slid my trusty letter opener along the top of the innocent-looking envelope, creating a nice, clean opening through which I pulled out the contents. I opened the “letter,” and there they were, staring me in the face – two full-color snapshots of my rear end. Okay, so it was my car’s rear-end, but now that I have your attention, let’s continue.
 

Now before you start thinking that I was flying down Highway 79 like a bat out of you-know-where, allow me to explain that when I committed the offense that got me busted on camera, I was making a right turn on a red light at Exchange Blvd, an act that, so far as I know, is perfectly legal. Apparently, however, I did not come to a complete stop before doing so. That, come to find out, is not so legal. 

For those of you who have found yourself in this same situation, I know you feel my pain. Thank you. For those of you who have not yet experienced that surreal moment when you see a full-color photo of your vehicle committing a no-no, accompanied by all the sordid details, don’t laugh. It could happen to you, too. And if it does, I have good news and bad news for you. Bad news first.

The bad news is that fighting a photo ticket is next to pointless for obvious reasons, and your little moment of carelessness (aka committing a ticketable offense) will cost you $75.00. 

The good news is that photo tickets do not count as moving violations, so they should not appear on your driving record or affect your insurance rates (or so says my attorney). 

The other “good” news is that if you do find yourself the recipient of a traffic ticket in Hutto (the photo variety or the old-fashioned kind), you can easily pay your fine online at the city’s website, HuttoTX.gov, from the comfort of your own home. I love technology.

But seriously, this little adventure has served me well as a reminder to pay closer attention when I am driving. It’s easy to get distracted and coast through a stop sign or fail to come to a complete stop when appropriate. I’m grateful for the fine job our Hutto Police Department does in keeping ours a safe community. But in the future, I will be more careful and keep that $75.00 in my pocket – at least until the next big shoe sale.

Blessings in Disguise

Tonight's Music from the Heart: Kenny G - White Christmas

It's early December, and to celebrate the colder temperatures we are now experiencing, I played around a little with the camera this morning, donning woolly hat, gloves and scarf, all in an attempt to dress for the season.This evening I uploaded the pictures and played around a little more with various colors, soft edges and a host of other wonders of modern photo-editing software, and have selected a few "self-images" to share with you, dear friends and family. You can find the link, entitled "Just Messin' Around" in the photo gallery section on the left of the page.

The flip side of why I had so much time today to play around with this stuff is that I seriously sprained my ankle and foot Monday and am operating with limited mobility for at least a week. Ugh.

Ace bandages & crutches aren't exactly my idea of a festive holiday season, but I have chosen to accept this temporary slow-down as a blessing in disguise, as it has necessitated a slow-down of my busy-ness for a little while. This slow-down,while not on my calendar, is a welcome reprieve from the craziness that I tend to surround myself with if I'm not careful. Truth be told, I have actually enjoyed the opportunity to delve a little into a creative project, something I don't make enough time for these days.

So, no deep profound thoughts this evening. Only a gentle reminder to take a few moments each day to savor the season, especially the moments that kinda sneak up on you unexpectedly, and look for the little blessings nestled inside those unplanned interruptions.

Happy December!

Rachael

Meteorites, Medications & Jello

It's Friday evening, and I've been a little under the weather the last couple of days, courtesy of a freak sinus infection that slammed into my world yesterday like a flaming meteorite. Okay, so maybe it wasn't quite as dramatic as all that, but it has certainly made an impact on how I've spent my time the last couple of days, nonetheless.

Namely, much of it has been spent semi-prone in a recliner trying to find the right position so I could breathe and hence, sleep. Today, part of my afternoon was spent in the doctor's office, one of my least favorite places on the planet. Not that I have anything against doctors, of course. It just isn't my favorite place to hang out for several hours, which is inevitable, regardless of whether you have a scheduled appointment or not.

Anyway, enough complaining about that. I'm starting to feel a little better, thanks to a carefully selected cocktail of prescription medications. For this, I am truly thankful. A little rest over the weekend, and I'll be good as new.

Now, on to more significant matters. What flavor jello shall I make - strawberry/banana or black cherry?

A Little Chat with Myself

Tonight I am feeling a bit introspective as I consider the fact that while time continues to march on, historically measured in years, decades & centuries, our lives are made up of moments. One by one they tiptoe past us, quietly becoming a part of our past just as swiftly as they arrived. Tonight, my mood is a little sullen and my heart is a little heavy.

I feel no need to delve into the details of the events and circumstances behind my current mood. What I need is a little self-talk, to address my spirit face-to-face. I'm inviting you to listen in.

I need to remind myself that my moments rest in the hands of the Almighty. The same God who spoke the universe into existence and who governs eternity with wisdom and justice, this same God is still standing right here beside me, inviting me to rest my head on His chest as He wraps His arms around me in a gentle yet strong embrace that both comforts me and protects me from whatever it is that I imagine might try to swallow me up.

I need to remind myself that no matter what my emotions tell me, my joy is found in the One who rejoices over me with singing, and His joy actually strengthens me. The Hope of the Nations is my own personal source of hope.

My peace (that crazy peace that flies up in the face of circumstance that would dictate otherwise) lies buried deep inside, in a wellspring that trickles, then flows, then forges its way up to the surface as a rushing river, overtaking me like a raging torrent. Sweet waters of peace - life-giving waters ...

If talking to yourself is a mark of insanity, then I guess I'm in good company. The psalmist David spoke to himself, with such admonitions as:

"Why so downcast, o my soul? Put your hope in God."

Well, to my spirit, I say:

"Do not be downcast another moment. Put your hope in God. Remember Who your source is. Get your emotions in check, and remember Whose you are. Turn your gaze fully on His face, and everything else will melt away. Stop looking for something to do, and simply be. Stand firmly and quietly in His presence, and the answers will come."

I feel better now. I'm glad we had this little talk.

Tonight's music from my heart is
"Worth It All" by Rita Springer.

Picture This

I've finally figured out how to create online photo albums using Picassa, and I have now posted my first two here for you to peruse. You'll find the links under the heading "Pics" on the left side of the page under the post archive. Take a peek and let me know what you think.

Enjoy ...

grace & peace,
rachael