This week a very inquisitive person asked me why I named some of my personal possessions. Since this was the nth time I’ve answered this question, I figured I’ll post my answer(s). I offer two options to the person asking 1) microwave version 2) or War and Peace.

Microwave Version – ‘cause I can. Now you can stop reading and be satisfied!

War and Peace Version – My lil’ cousin, Jenny, is whom I was inspired by for naming animate objects. Thank you, Jenerator!

The following story falls into the category of “Friends; reason, season, or lifetime” types of stories. I see the Facebook / Pinterest / Google+ posting all the time:

Reason, Season, or Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown

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My First iPod

I digress. Now then, I’ve always wanted an iPod, ever since I discovered it could store and play a f-kton [highest measurement, above busload, and shitload] of songs, and have playlists! To ease my ex-wife’s guilt about breaking my heart, and instilling mistrust in women, she offered to use some of the money made from the sale of her guns that I facilitated [That’s another story in and of itself!]

She bought my first iPod at the local Costco.

I loved this little object of musical fun. Now I could run with some motivation, other than my own thoughts, which at that time (2008) was very manic-filled. I used it daily, if not hourly.

One innocuous morning, while running on the treadmill in the Costco Corporate Gym, this ginormous guy walks up to me. He asks me if I like running outdoors.

I stopped the machine, and put down the iPod to answer, “Sure. It’s easier to control some of the elements running indoors but I’m game for anything.” I was über depressed, and not wanting to discuss the divorce or be “that guy”. I mentally warned myself, Don’t drone on about it, ‘los. “I’m Carlos, by the way. Who are you?”

“I’m Mark,” he replied as his giant hand with a vise grip that threatened to smash mine. “Why don’t we meet up tomorrow? Here. In the gym. In the morning; rain or shine.”

[The next day – rain or shie]

Apparently, this was a running group! There were several other runners. This continued for months! Eventually one by one each of the other runners would fall out, but not Mark. He was my consummate running wingman. We would talk. Er, actually, I would talk incessantly and he (poor guy) would listen intently – a heaven-sent angel, I assume.

Inevitably, there came a day when Mark couldn’t run with me. And then that one time exception became the rule. Yet I continued my running. One day, his last day of running, he bequeathed his rainproof running jacket to me. You’ve got to picture this: The jacket was fitted for a 6’4”, 230lbs of muscle, being worn by a guy 5’11”, 190lbs. Quite comical I’d say. Like a big brother letting the younger brother borrow his shirts.

At any rate, with this oversized jacket, and iPod, I would head out to the Wide World of Sports. Hm. I thought, I should name this. I’ll have others as this one will expire, outdated, etc. Since my constant running companion was Mark, I named it Mark in his honor. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that Mark has sent for a SEASON. To reaffirm my belief in KEEP DIGGING that was tattooed on my leg that summer (2008)

Believe me, my mindset was digging alright but it was for my grave!

So, a grip of me, wants to believe that Mom was watching out for her son once again in a time when I needed yet didn’t ask for the help not realizing the perilous danger I was in!

Ironically enough, IRON MAN was released that summer, too. He, too, uses the Mark naming convention. The following is interesting timeline about my iPod Nano’s…

• iPod Nano, Generation 2 (G2), Mark I – 9/28/08 to present (on loan to my sister, she is the custodian)
• iPod Nano, Generation 3 (G3), Mark II – 10/6/09 to 2/7/10 (dropped in Costco parking lot, cracked screen)
• iPod Nano, Generation 3 (G3), Mark III – 2/8/10 to 2/22/10 (put it through the laundry, accidentally forgot it in a pocket)
• iPod Nano, Generation 3 (G3), Mark IV – 2/23/10 to 5/31/14 – this is the one encased (natural causes, usual service time is only 2 years)
• iPod Nano, Generation 7 (G7), Mark V – 6/1/14 to 11/9/14, stolen
• iPod Nano, Generation 7 (G7), Mark VI – 11/16/14 to 12/31/16, M.I.A. (Missing In Action)
• iPod Nano, Generation 7 (G7), Mark VII – 2/17/17 to present.

So after 3 months, I decided that Mark VI is gone. I set out to purchase a new 7th Generation iPod Nano. I looked into the usual places for pricing comparison of Craigslist, and FB Market. But I also tried out the shopping apps of OfferUp and Letgo. Sure enough, OfferUp had what I was looking for.

During the summer of 2016, Mark VI tumbled outta my pocket and ate shit right into the pavement like he had done before. Except this time I heard the tell-tale squishy sound of glass shattering. He and I rolled along until New Year’s Eve when he done ran off, never to be seen again.

The longest service history is Mark I, as it’s still in WCP’s possession and from I last checked, still operating. The 2nd longest is Mark VII of 8 years. Interestingly enough, the shortest service history is Mark III of 2 weeks.

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Guardian Angels

Now that I look back at the experience 17 years later … I realize that guardian angels are tangible. I’m confident that he saved a life that morning; mine. I’ve kept that debt of gratitude in my heart for some time.

My opportunity to pay it forward was one innocuous night at Woodinville 747 (Costco) I was a Front End Supervisor at the time. One of the cart crew approached me, and casually mentioned that another team member was in a bad place. I furrowed my eyebrows, “How so?”

“He’s in a place that such that of all of the people in the building right now, you’re the best candidate to talk to him.”

“HM,” I replied. I ditched my squawking radio, and marched out there into the cold, damp, dark parking lot. It was easy for me to spot the person needing my help.

I approached him, with compassionate and love. “Hey bud, what’s on your mind?” He continued to work at organizing the carts in the corral.

I placed my hand on his, “Please stop. Let’s talk instead of work.”

I encouraged him to talk to me, eventually he did. What was said wasn’t important to me. What was important was that he was heard. I think that made a difference in his life, as he started a trajectory of success that was better than I imagined for him.

So I said all of that to say this: KEEP DIGGING.