Happy $40,000 Day

Some days are just better than others. Today could be categorized as one of those. I got to get all dressed up and go to GSK for the Triangle Community Foundations Impact awards and watch Ashley Delamar the VP for Development for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC receive an award and a big time check.

Actually I was lucky I made it all. The Food Bank was one of nine non-profits being honored, which meant there was a big auditorium full of people descending on GSK at the same time during the workday. Now thousands of people work on the giant campus so you would think adding a few hundred would not be a problem.

I pulled up to the guardhouse and was instructed to follow the signs. I drove the mile down the road to the first parking area, circled and wove my way past all full spots. Then I went to the next parking area, the same thing except even the grass homemade spaces were full. Next to a parking garage where I circled my way up around and around each deck, until I reached the very top and there in the far corner was one empty spot. I pulled in only 20 minutes after I first passed through the guardhouse.

I ran to the elevator only to discover it was broken. I needed the steps anyway, but what about the lady with the cane coming up behind me? I was already late, but felt guilty dashing down the stairs without first offering to help. As the old women tottered towards the elevator I told her that it apparently was broken. She looked a little disturbed and asked me what floor we were on, trying to calculate if she could handle the walk.

I opened the door to the stairway where I saw a sign that read, “Floor 5.” I turned back and told the granny it was the 5^th floor. She gave a big sigh and in a very small voice said, “I can’t make that.” Although she was not really talking to me I clearly couldn’t say, “Oh well, have a nice day,” and dash inside, already late.

“Would you like me to drive you to the front door?” I offered. “Yes, Dearie. I really need to go to these awards, my grand daughter is accepting one.” So that is what I did. I gave up my long sought for parking space and drove back to the front of building five and dropped her off right at the front door.

I drove back to the same garage and hoped that someone had vacated a parking spot. Round and round I went up every deck and as I was nearing the top without an empty spot in sight I was beginning to wonder where the next place was to look for parking. As I got to the very top I looked over to the corner where I originally had parked and there it was, my empty space was still there. Don’t tell me you don’t believe in Karma.

Down five flights and then up three more inside the next building and a long walk connecting two building together and I finally reached the awards in process. As I silently went to sit down I saw the Granny waving at me and pointing to her granddaughter sitting next to her. It was my small impact day.