Auto Pilot

This morning I was doing laundry when the phone rang. It was my sister in law. I sat down and for the next 45 minutes she began to tell me all the stuff that's been happening in her corner of the world. She had a big mess to clean up this week, the sprayer arm on her sink came off in her hand and in a few short seconds water went everywhere, dousing her and the kitchen floor. Isn't that just the way life is, surprising us with those moments that jar you awake? I don't know about you but some days I sleepwalk though the whole day. I ran errands yesterday, the grocery store, the drive thru at the bank, a much needed trip to the hairdresser, gas for the car and finally...I head home. I have the window down and I'm listening to the music on the radio, it's a nice day and I had survived Walmart once again when I heard something familiar. It was the train whistle. I had just went over the tracks after it had passed. Not the other way, which would have been a really a bad outcome. The RR arms come down at this intersection and and keep anyone from going through, they had evidently lifted but the train...as big as it was...somehow got lost in my adled brain. My attention was on getting home, unpacking groceries and starting dinner. The path that is so familar to us sometimes is our own worst enemy. The sameness takes us offguard, makes us feel safe like we are on AUTO PILOT. Life doesn't come with that button though, but I'm making myself a BIG sticky note for the windshield...