Trials and Tribulations

Trials and Tribulations of a Nice Guy

Why is it that when I spend most of my time helping other people I usually always seem to end up with the short end of the stick?

Over the past few agonizingly busy years, several times I have found myself going to the ends of the earth for my friends. Putting others before me has always gotten me into trouble. For example when my friend Brad’s truck was stuck on the side of the highway with a broken fan belt who was the first person he called? Me. I answered the phone and agreed, “Sure I’ll come help you out, no problem.” Meanwhile, my beautiful girlfriend Christine was expecting me to be at her house in twenty minutes for a delicious homemade lasagna dinner. So without delay I sped down the highway, tools in tow hoping to beat the wonderful traffic jams that seem to clog up the roads only when I’m in a hurry. I’m almost there when out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of those flashing blue and red lights. “DAMN, I’m getting a ticket!” As I pull off the road I’m distraught that it’s always when I’m trying to help someone else, I always get stuck with some unforeseen issue I wasn’t counting on. I gaze into my mirror and watch as the tall, stately state trooper walks briskly up to my window and demands, “License, registration, and proof of insurance.” I kindly hand my paperwork to him as he says, ”Do you know why I pulled you over?” I answered, “Speeding,” and he nodded then strolled back to his black and white police cruiser. I sat quietly waiting to see the consequences of my law breaking while staring into my side view mirror. After about five minutes or so, I watched as he got out of his car, adjusted his hat and walked back to my window. He then said to me in a stern voice, “I’m going to let you slide with a warning but you need to slow it down!” I said in a very apologetic tone, “Thank you very much, sir, I really appreciate it,” then went on my way. So already late for dinner and now angry from...