Mile 3, 401

Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Took the weekend off to relax, but ended up getting stressed out of my mind anyway. On Saturday, I stopped at a gas station on my way back from yoga. I was talking to a friend on the phone as I grabbed my credit card and got out of the car. Out of instinct, I think I must have locked the car as I got out--only the keys were still on the front seat. I was so mad and frustrated when I realized it after I filled up.

I called a couple of tow truck companies and lock smiths, but they all wanted fifty bucks or more to unlock the car--the kind of money I definitely don't have. I finally called my mom, even though she's two thousand miles away, and was telling her I didn't have fifty bucks when suddenly this girl walks over from another pump and holds out a fifty dollar bill. I nearly dropped my phone. Me: "I can't take that." Her: "You're stranded. Take it. I don't need it." Me: "Really, no, it's ok." The girl basically threw the money at me, smiled, and walked back to her Land Rover and drove away. Seriously.

My mom called me back ten minutes later to let me know that AAA was on their way to unlock the car--it had been cheaper apparently to add me to her yearly plan than to get my car unlocked once. The whole situation made me realize how important my car really is--I pretty much live out of it. I'm just glad I still have a car and that it works and that I didn't get mugged at the gas station.

So now I have this fifty dollar bill burning a hole in my wallet and not for the usual reasons. I feel like I should pay it forward, but I find myself being picky when I see bums holding signs next to the street. I should just take it to a soup kitchen or something before I get mugged and the money goes to no good use at all.

My boss hasn't come in yet this week, but after today I go back to the ACLU for the rest of the week, so I hope she comes in to update me on what I should be doing in the office. Otherwise, I'm just cleaning up the kitchen, printing more business cards than anyone could possibly need, and surfing Facebook.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do about Mexico. I want to go, but the rents are still disapproving and it definitely could be dangerous. And, also, part of me just wants to go home for a little while. Just to chill out. I think maybe I need that. Globetrotting can wait. Maybe. Damnit.