Part VI: Lessons learned and the scramble for cash
It was hard. You know how when you're driving in the rain and see the poor people huddled under bus "shelters" to stay dry and you pity them? I was one of them. You know how when Chicago turns into God's personal snow globe and the sidewalks and gutters are covered in black slushy slop but you still have to drag your blocks-of-ice feet to the El platform to catch your train and all you can think about is how much this sucks as your snot runs all over your scarf cuz you forgot to bring tissues again? Yep, my life. Ever been on a sardine-packed California bus where 80% of the riders just got out of County four blocks south and won't shut the hell up about how they're "never going back"? Mmhmm.
Granted, it wasn't always that bad, although I experienced all of the above a number of times.
I must say though, after having the convenience of a car forever and being accustomed to driving four city blocks just to go to the liquor store...resorting to complete dependence on CTA, planning my routes via transitchicago.com rather than Mapquest, and buying 7-Day Passes every week instead of filling my gas tank made for a very difficult transition.
But remember what I said about "good" and "bad" and our perceptions? On the flip side, I am thankful for the whole annoying experience. In the same manner as restaurant courtesy--if you don't have enough money to tip, you don't have enough money to dine out. If you "don't have the money" for car insurance (which was another of my initial excuses/straight up lies), you don't have the right to drive, plain and simple.
In all honesty, I was thankful that I live in Chicago, which provides me with a way to get around. Sure, I had to wake up an hour earlier and leave my house much earlier, but at least Dominican University, Soldier Field, United Center, my mom's, Shane's, and The Angel Lady (the only places I ever really needed to go) are easily accessible via public transportation.
And most of all, it's much safer to do your makeup on the bus or train rather than while driving on the highway (guilty).
I would have never learned how to ride the Metra trains out to the suburbs (seriously), which came in handy when I decided to start working in Naperville again. And in the warmer months, well, even in the colder times, I really "connected" with the city. My journalistic nature forced me to take photos of everything and write about my experiences. I had so many meaningful interactions and conversations with people around town. I began to view the various neighborhoods from a different perspective, rather than just driving past landmarks.
I should seriously be a photographer.
As my fourth and final court date (which actually would have merely been my only return date had I not had the suburban complications thrown in the mix) approached, I actually became a bit nervous for the first time. The judge and that loser D.A. had told me my fine would be $625.
Given that they'd allowed me nearly half a year to allocate these funds, it shouldn't have been so difficult--but we all know, life happens, and a girl's gotta go shopping once in a while. But the day was getting closer, and I wondered how I would come up with that cash so fast. It also didn't help that the circus comes to United Center during the last two weeks of November:
...and the Chicago Stadium Club, the VIP bar/restaurant where I work in the building, isn't open for the circus--only game days and most concerts (i.e open for Celine Dion, the Eagles, or Madonna, but not for Jay-Z , Mary J. Blige, nor Lil' Wayne, aHEM. Bitches).
So I had two weeks off of work, very minimal obligations at my other jobs, and essentially only four potential United Center work days in December before my court date to come up with $625--while still being able to pay my rent and utilities on top of everything come the 12th. And wonderfully--I had to take off two of the four U.C. events in early December because of my Tuesday and Wednesday night classes. Wonderful!
However, as always, I believed in myself. I had no idea where the money would come from, but I knew I'd make it happen since I always pull through.
Talk about blind faith. But faith, in any sense, but mainly faith in yourself, is significant.
And somehow, things turned around to my advantage, and money-making opportunities arose.
Sue Storm, also known as The Angel Lady/Naperville author whose books I ghostwrite and edit, started emailing and calling me even though I'd been ignoring her since July (see blog entry: "She Talks to [Voodoo] Angels").
Apparently, this time Sue got a real book deal with the Barnes & Noble distributor, and needed to start writing now. Obviously after some of her assertions during our Florida trip, I didn't want to go back to dealing with her, but would have been foolish to refuse her cash payments for work and writing that I consider to be incredibly basic and mindless. The timing was uncanny.
Since we'd had problems in the past, I gave my stipulations: she'd have to pay me via check or cash at the end of each day (as opposed to bi-weekly), and give me compensation for the cost of Metra fare since I clearly couldn't drive out to Naperville. Since I'm her best writer, she of course obliged, and I went back to work. Thankfully, due to my numerous trips to and from the city with or to see Shane, I was quite comfortable with the whole Metra/city-suburb commute. Again, blessings in disguise...
There was also a single Bears game at Soldier Field in which I made a ridiculous amount of cash thanks to my sweetheart of a manager Tom--the only "higher up" at Soldier Field whom I don't loathe. And I loathe them all. He, however, always takes care of me and makes sure I leave with something substantial...even though I had ditched a Sunday morning 8 a.m. employee call time game or two this season in favor of staying in bed hanging with Shane. I can't believe the shit I get away with sometimes...
After saving every red cent I could, doing some freelance writing jobs, going to United Center two hours early per shift to make the overtime cash, busting ass at Bears games, and spending 20+ hours at a time at Sue's (yes, I spent the night a couple of times at her suggestion. Very scary at first, but I only did it to rack up the hours and avoid unnecessary commutes! Desperate times call for...), I had more than enough money in my bank account on the weekend eve of the court date. And I did this all while attending school full time. I seriously amazed myself.
But then Tuesday night I checked my current Bank of America statements online, only to see that my insurance payment had cleared that day, leaving me about $50 short of the $625. How ironic. Damn it! It's always something, I thought to myself. It was a small drop in the ocean of my fine, but how the hell would I come up with that deficit by 1 p.m. the next day? The worst part was, Thursday night there was a Bears game scheduled and I'd definitely have some good money that day, but alas, it was a day too late.
Instead of going into panic mode, I mentally talked myself through it. It'll be fine, I told myself. You can just go to the judge and tell him how much you do have. But no sob stories, no trying to garner pity; just the facts.
See, I'm the kind of person who hates giving excuses. For example, if I miss an assignment at school, I never give my professors excuses--which I see as bullshit with frosting on it. At least in my case, with school, any excuse I'd ever give would most likely be bullshit, so I don't ever bother. I just tell them simply, "Sorry, I couldn't get this done. If you'll still accept this submission, I take responsibility for whatever repercussions there may be." And they usually don't penalize me and I usually get As anyhow! And in legitimate cases of me not being able to attend extracurricular activities, instead of crying about how busy my life is, I just tell them straight up: "I did not attend the mandatory event because I had to work. I couldn't see myself forgoing rent to watch a musical. It is what it is."
I hate BS. And I find that sincere, straight up honesty and acceptance of responsibility gets you way further than making pathetic excuses. At least it does for me.
But what if the judge just says, "Well, you had six months to come up with the money, so no mercy!" I thought. But I had to stop psyching myself out. It is what it is, Charlotte. You'll go in tomorrow and see what happens. Why worry about something you absolutely cannot change in this moment?
And what happened in the next moment nearly blew my knickers off.
Next up: THE Conclusion (for real this time).
No comments:
Post a Comment