15 Things Which Will Make you Run Faster

Those of us who run regularly know at which point(s) in our run we tend to slow down and almost give into our inner voice which is practically yelling at us to stop.  Of course, once you overcome that voice you often realize that you can actually run farther than you thought, and those moments of overcoming the doubtful inner voice feel so empowering (take that inner voice!)

While about halfway through today's long run I was motivated to run a little faster as I approached an extremely smelly porta poddy.  The smell permeated for a good quarter mile, and the quickest way to get out of the danger zone, was to speed up those feet. 

That got me to thinking, and before I knew it a mile or two had gone by as I was compiling in my mind a list of the top 15 irritating things I regularly encounter on my runs which cause me to speed up, and so really these irritating motivators are silver linings, and I am begrudgingly thankful for them:

1) Smelly porta poddys

2) Off-leash pooches who think it's fun to chase you (after all that's why you are running, right?)

3) Imminent bridge lifts (while I used to find these irritating, I actually like them now as they provide an opportunity to take in a nice view & stretch a bit, but when you are cresting the bridge & see a vessel coming, it's fun to try & outrun it too!)

4) A slowly approaching freight train at the RR crossing you must pass over (longest wait at a RR crossing, over 10 mins!)

5) Creeps

6) The sudden feeling that you must use the restroom (tip: don't eat a lot of cherries the day before a long run...trust me)

7) Approaching rain clouds (while I enjoy a run in the rain, it's actually fun to try outrun the rain clouds!)

8) Crowds of people (the quickest way to get out of the bottle neck of people on foot & pedals is to find the maze within and just hoof it)

9) Runners & their dogs on long leashes (I think it's great for runner & pooch to go for a run, or walk, but please keep them on a tight leash.  When your furry friend is 10+ feet from you, you've just created an unwanted obstacle course)

10) Group mob runners/walkers (I frequent group runs, and so I get it, but please realize that just because you are in a group does not mean that you get to take the ENTIRE path. Be courteous & let us solos through too)

11) Group stroller runs/walks (don't mistake me, I have mad respect for those who can run and maneuver a stroller, but when running in a group, please recognize that you should sometimes stroll single file through congested pathways)

12) Narrow shoulder on a busy roadway (sometimes you have few options but to run along the side of a busyish road & the best way to get out of harms way is to speed on through)

13) A counting down pedestrian traffic signal (If the countdown is 6 or more, I can always sprint & clear the light before it hits 0!)

14) Hills (I have two large hills to contest with in my neighborhood & sometimes it's just easier to get them over with quickly)

15) Surreys

I HATE these!!!

I must now rant a bit. I get that surreys are fun.  They are a neat way for tourists to enjoy themselves. However, I do not appreciate them when crossing over Portland's bridges.  The surrey joyriders typically don't have the best control over the contraption, and so they are often unpredictable, and are especially irritating when crossing over the Hawthorne Bridge, because a narrow space must be shared by one-way bicyclists and both-ways pedestrians.  The surreys are only available for rental during the fare-weather runner/walker time of year, and so if you are not quick, before you know it you are stuck behind an ill-operated surrey.  I've rarely seen happy faced surrey connoisseurs when going over the Hawthorne Bridge, because by this point even they realize how precarious they are to others. My tip to fellow runners/walkers would be to use the eastbound side of the Hawthorne bridge during fare-weather running/walking season (May - September).  

All-in-all, I never let any of the above ruin a run, and in fact when you turn them in to quick footed motivators, you can begin to embrace them as opportunities to challenge yourself!

Urban vs. Suburban Running: Who Let the Dogs Out?

Mostly I'm an urban city runner, but lately I've been running more in the burbs, and sometimes just a smidgen into the country.  An observation: in the burbs, people seem to think it's okay to let their dogs roam around their yards off leash, unsupervised.

L-R: Rylee, Brenna & Bailey.
Photo taken by Samantha Ulrich

 Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, and in fact my family has three lovable, too-cute-for-their-own-good, snugly fur monsters (evidence to your left).  

However, that doesn't mean that when I'm out for my weekend run that I enjoy being chased by other people's dogs--particularly when I'm in the last grueling mile of my long run.  It's happened twice lately, and both by labs.  While I am pretty sure that in each instance the pooch was just playing, I was not in the playing mood.  Each time it took the owner several minutes to realize that their dog was enjoying a game of catch-the-runner, which for me was several minutes too long.   

So, I post this just to remind my fellow dog-owners, as is best put by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA),

Regardless of your dog’s motivation, chasing runners should be discouraged. No runner enjoys being harassed by a dog, even if the dog’s intent is playful. Your dog could be injured or frightened by a runner since the person is well within his or her rights to shout, strike out or kick at your dog in self-defense.

Read more about the types of behaviors to look for in dogs who chase runners 

Don't worry, even though the ASPCA deems it a reasonable possibility, I won't hit or kick your runner-chasing-dog, but I will tell your dog "No" and be very annoyed with you. 

To end on a positive note, I have observed very courteous dog-owner behavior along a multi-use path I frequent in my suburb running route, and thank the dog owners who make sure that their dogs don't chase others, and when appropriate keep their dogs on leash.  After all, there's no reason runners, walkers and dogs can't share the path in harmony! 

I Run to Empower

Well, today is National Running Day, which is held annually on the first Wednesday of June.  Today is a day where runners everywhere proudly proclaim their favorite pastime. There's even an official website (http://www.runningday.org/) where you can locate local running events, group runs, and even snag your own National Running Day Badge:

I never would have thought I'd catch the running bug.  Despite the encouragement of one of my high school's track & cross country coaches to come on out for a run (she literally pestered me all 4 years of high school), I was adamant that I despised, in fact hated, running.  I can't even count how many times I've declared that I will never run. 

Fast forward 14 years to the Spring of 2011, which is when my attitude toward running changed forever.  I caught the running bug mostly due to curiosity.  I thought I'd give running a try, and although I hated it for the first 6 months or so, eventually it grew on me, and when it did, there was no going back.  And here I am in 2013 training for my first half marathon (this ones for you Coach Garrison!).

Running is my time to clear my head and regain balance.  It's where I challenge myself, and insert adventure into my day.  Sometimes it's a social endeavor (**High Five** to my running buddies!). You just never know what any given run will bring.  There's lots to see: flowers, sunsets, neat cloud formations, and let's not underestimate the people (ahem, Too Short of Shorts Running Man). 

For me running is what reminds me that anything is possible.  I use running to not only empower myself, but also to empower others, and to raise awareness about causes which are close to my heart (plug website for cause here: http://amandapdxrunforcongo.wix.com/teamcongopdx).  I'm not alone in this, collectively in the last 20 years runners have raised over a billion dollars for countless causes (http://www.runningday.org/charity/make-a-difference-on-national-running-day). 

Of course not everyone can run, and you know, that's the neat thing about the running community.  Most running events welcome walkers, wheelchair runners, and even sometimes our furry friends.   And, personally, my hat's off to those who are coordinated enough to run while pushing your little one in a jogging stroller--I mean seriously, sometimes it's all I can do to get my two feet across the finish line, let alone four additional wheels!

So, whether you're a casual or super fanatic runner, today is for you!  So, what in the heck are you waiting for?  Lace up and get out there!


My running partner & I sprinting to the finish at the 2012 Red Lizard 5 Miler

The Office: More than Just the End to a Show

Today is not just any Thursday.  It's Office Thursday.  And, it's not just any Office Thursday.  It's the finale of one of the greatest shows of the past decade.  One that holds a special place in my heart, as well as those of anyone who appreciates ruining innocent sentences by spouting off with: "That's What She Said!"



Hey, I can have my own Office-Thon!

I have been a self-appointed uber fan of The Office since the beginning.  As those who know me best can attest, the humor of The Office is completely compatible with my general smart alecky outlook on the everyday.  It is the everyday after all where we all reside.  Yep, our days are filled with alarm clocks, thermostats, coffee, water coolers, copy machines, and the more than occasional paper jam. 

I so love The Office that when new episodes are being aired I go out of my way to make sure that my Thursday evenings are free of commitments, for I have a commitment with NBC to watch my favorite characters be completely ridiculous, and yet somehow remain completely relateable.  Anyone who's worked in an office can appreciate many of the subplots within each episode: fighting over thermostat temperature, the envy over how much better the ladies bathroom is compared to the gentleman's, and who doesn't want to master Flonkerton for the next Office Olympics?

I also love that the show was able to fulfill many plot lines and yet keep the show going without compromising the underlying humor and greatness that is The Office.  Jim finally got Pam (a modern day fairytale we can all aspire to), Michael got Holly (a more quirky fairytale, yet also worth aspiring to), in the end Angela got Dwight...and Dwight got a son (much to Dwight's chagrin, I cannot aspire to be a beat farmer)!

The office, however, holds a special place in my heart for another reason.  Around 2007-ish, NBC came out with Dunder Mifflin Infinity (DMI), which was an online game/social network for fans of The Office.  At that time my "social media online" presence was nonexistent.  Nonetheless, I was intrigued, so I joined the Medford, OR branch.  Initially DMI was pretty lame, and it took a few months for the DMI community to take shape. 



Kermyisgreen = Me!


The best way to describe DMI is: Facebook meets online gaming.  Each week there was a task to complete for which you could earn Schrutebucks, which you would in turn use to purchase items for your virtual desk, or gift to your co-worker's virtual desk. There was branch and then company wide voting on task submissions for which you could earn more Shrutebucks, and even really cool real-world prizes from NBC to the over-all company wide winners.

The more Shrutebucks you earned, the quicker you would advance up the company ladder.  Within your branch you could post to your branch's private forum, and if you were brave you could venture out into the public DMI forums.  Pretty soon a solid online community was formed.  To encourage social interaction, you could also earn Schrutebucks by posting in the forums, and on your co-workers profiles. During DMI's height, the writers of the show would place references to DMI within the show (every uber Office Fan's dream).

As is the usual case with me in every facet of my life, before I knew it what was supposed to be a fun non-responsibility filled endeavor, turned into a responsible commitment. For two years I served as Regional Manager (forum moderator) of the Medford, OR branch -  the home of the Rogue Beavers.  Our branch moto was: "We're Rough Around the Edges".  We were a small yet mighty branch.  The most employees we ever had at any one time was around 150 - 200, and of those only about 20 were active.  But still, I had a job to do.  No really, I did.  Every so often we had branch tasks, and it was my responsibility to coordinate the submission of  the tasks. Eventually it was also a part of my duties to appoint employee of the week, and employee of the month. And moderating the forums was a task in and of itself (no cyber bullies on my watch!).  Yep, my silly online game turned into work that sometimes kept me up late at night (don't judge).

What happened during those two years however, is that I got to know a really neat group of people from all over the country, and in fact even one cool Australian dude.  A small, but special, group from back east joined our Medford branch pretty early on, and two members of that group (Ame and Sam), really helped to make our branch fun.  We had several games to play in our branch forum (20 questions, for example), and eventually Ame started a video blog thread wherein several branch members (myself included) shared videos which captured a snapshot of our everyday lives.  Heck, we even held our own Dundee awards! Pronk & Bobuerto led our branch's fantasy sports teams, and from what I recall we actually did really well.

During the second year of DMI, a special camaraderie between branches was formed.  We hosted events in the public forums, and Medford co-founded L.E.C.O.M, which consisted of 5 branches (Lakeland, Erie, Canton, Odessa and Medford).  Together we planned and hosted an Office Olympics, Talent Contest and company picnic, which if memory serves me correctly NBC gave us credit for on the DMI homepage.  Winners were awarded nifty badges to display on their forum signatures, such as the nifty badge featured here.

 

I was able to meet Ame and Sam in person when they visited Portland in 2009, as is evidenced in a video blog Ame posted following their trip (note that apparently when I don't know what to say, I ramble about the weather...)

In 2010 after two and a half years of faithful service I resigned from DMI, because I felt it was time for me to invest in connections within my community. And in fact it was 1 year later when my current path of advocacy work began. 

I left the Rogue Beavers in the capable hands of Ame and Sam (just look at the cool DMI Medford website they made!). Eventually, however, DMI fizzled out of existence, but the bonds formed by it's members have not. In fact, I'm still in touch with several former Rogue Beavers. Some of them have supported my current projects with regard to Congo. Some beat me too often in Words with Friends, and a couple are on my Christmas card list.  And, of course, recently a "closed" DMI Facebook group has been formed so that we can reminisce about our ridiculously fun DMI days.

But all of them hold a special place in my heart, for you see when I joined DMI I was going through a difficult time in my life and needed a distraction which did not involve bonds with other people.  What I found instead was a supportive community of real-life people who unbeknownst to them helped me to refocus and regain my confidence.

And so today I lift my Employee of the Year mug to you: Ame, Sam, Travelcup, JoanofArc, Intheceiling, Ladystokecat, Ponk, Bobuerto, The Question, MellowD & the rest of the DMI community:


I bring this mug into my annual review every year--it gets a laugh every time!


 

So, you see, tonight is not just the ending of one of the best shows of the past decade, but the commemoration of the many friendships formed through love for the show. 

M otivated people who are driven to succeed
E xperts in the field to meet your every paper need
D epth of our commitment makes us stand out from the rest
F unny, smart, creative folks with whom you'll be impressed
O ffering you service full of dignity and grace
R eady for the challenges that we will have to face
D edicated to the goal of having lots of fun

 

At DMI Medford, we're number 1!

BEARS. BEETS. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

 

One Million Bones Inspires Action; Awareness

This past Thursday (4.25), was the One Million Bones (OMB) installation at Portland State University (PSU).  The event was sponsored by Oregon Coalition for Humanity (OCH), Atma Foundation & Oregon Holocaust & Resource Center.

 

OMB is a national public arts project whose aim is to raise awareness of genocides and atrocities going on around the world, this very day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Burma and Somalia.  Our April 25th installation focused upon raising awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where nearly 6 million people have died over the past decade due to conflict over control of minerals which wind up in our electronic devices.

 

Bones installed at PSU on 4.25.13.
Photo taken by Denise Wetherell

 

Over the past 6 months students and concerned citizens in Oregon have been gathering to make bones in honor of those whose lives have been lost to these genocides.  These bones, totalling approximately 8,500, were installed on the PSU campus April 25th.  These same bones will also be installed in our National Mall as a part of the national installation this coming June, where an advocacy day is planned for June 10, 2013.

 



PSU students support CFCI!

The OMB installation was coupled with OCH's Conflict Free City Initiative, which is an initiative whose aim is to combine awareness and action as to where the minerals which go into our electronics come from, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  OCH is working to present CFCI to both the cities of Portland and Beaverton. (Click here to learn how you can support CFCI.)

 

Ann Shannon talks to the brownie troop about OMB

April 25th was an inspiring day.  An estimated 500-600 people walked through our installation.  We all had many engaging conversations. Awareness was raised, and we were able to interact with people of all ages, including a Brownie troop who walked by & then came back to help make some more bones out of clay.



We made some good connections with folks in the community, and our panel discussion was informative, and stirred up some good discussion with regard to genocide & human mass atrocity, the policy response, and what we as concerned citizens can do.  In fact, OCH hopes to institute a series of "Activism 101" panel discussions.

 

Our Panel

Top Row (L-R): Amanda Ulrich (OCH, Run for Congo Women); Francesca (From Dungu Congo) & Alysha Atma (OCH, Atma Foundation).

Bottom Row (L-R): Retired Portland State University Professor Greg Goekjian; Anna Canning from Portland's Equal Exchange Co-Op; Professor Clint B.T. Baldwin of George Fox University & Brian Plinski of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici's Office.

 

What resonated with me the most, however, was a conversation I had with a PSU student who is a veteran of our most recent war with Iraq who is taking his experiences in war to try & leave a positive impact upon the world.  Although it was difficult for him, he shared a very personal story of the first human mass grave he witnessed when initially deployed to Iraq.  Our installation triggered this memory for him, and although he could have simply walked through our installation, he instead decided not to engage, but to also share a very personal, and horrific, memory. It was a moment which hit a deep cord both within himself and me, and is one that will stay with me for quite some time. 

 

The main take away from the day was that remarkably the worst actions of humanity also shine a light on the best parts of humanity. There are always people working for the good of all, and that we must be careful not to succumb to a more cynical and jaded view of the world.   It’s a tough battle, but must be fought.

 

Source: http://www.onemillionbones.org/

Thank you to the Portland State University Alumni Association for covering our event and publishing an alumni profile.

 

Final Stats: Team Congo PDX's Group 10K & 5K Walk/Run - 3.9.13

The final stats are now in for my 2nd Annual Team Congo PDX's Group 10K/5K Walk Run, which was held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 to coincide with International Women's Day.


Participants running (sisters Ann & Carrie)
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Participants: 148 (10K:66 / 5K:82)

5Kers starting their route
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Funds Raised: $4,806

(Team Congo PDX Page, Rock Creek Multi-Cultural Center & Brenna Kutch)

100% of each participant's registration fee was a donation to Women for Women International's DR Congo program, and the amount above is comprised not only of the registration fees collected, but also of the funds collected the day of the event for the purchase of raffle tickets, as well as donations collected in the months and weeks leading up to the event.

The funds raised are enough sponsor 12 women for one year via Women for Women International's DR Congo Program.  These women will be enrolled in a year-long training program which will give them the skills needed to support themselves and their families.  They will also receive trauma counseling, and at the end of the program will be given a micro loan so that they can begin to support themselves using their newly learned skills.

Volunteer Hours: 

88.5 hours / 21 Volunteers

Volunteers Patrick & Scott check-in participants at Foot Traffic
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Volunteer hours were donated in order to ensure that the event went as smoothly as possible, and for that I thank all volunteers!  Volunteers set-up the after-event reception areas, set-up the registration area, ran-registration, directed participants out on the route and helped to clean-up afterwards. 

A special thank you to Patrick Whalen, Starbucks Manager extraordinaire, who worked hard to recruit route volunteers via the Starbucks Community Service Site.

A local massage therapist from Raven Healing Therapies donated her services by offering a 15 minute massage for the participants free-of-charge.  Photographer Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions donated her services by capturing the day in photos.  I thank them both for the generous donation of their talents.

I also thank the following volunteers: Kayla Smith (event co-coordinator), Kevin Putnam (sponsor), Craig Moore, Ann Shannon, Richa Sehgal, Alysha Atma, Allison (Foot Traffic), Dan, Anna & Hannah and Starbucks volunteers: Scott, Monica, Ramona, Susan, Anna, Sharon & Joseph.

SPONSORS: 5

($3,000 value)

I owe a BIG thank you to all of the event sponsors for without their support, my event would not have been the success it was: Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton, Foot Traffic, Diversitech, Starbucks & Great Harvest Bakery. 

My sponsors made it possible to advertise the event, print promotional materials, manage off-line registrations, provide the before and after event gathering spaces, and of course yummy treats to enjoy at the after-event reception. 

Most importantly, however, their sponsorship conveys their commitment to the cause, and for that I am grateful.  

RAFFLE PRIZES: 30+

($500 value)

Over 30 raffle prizes were donated to the event by the following supporters:

Thank you!

Community Support: 8 Groups

At the event were the following community groups: Oregon Coalition for Humanity, Portland's Equal Exchange Co-op, Never Again Coalition, Atma Foundation, Arise for Congo, The Embrace Necklace, & One Million Bones, all of whom sent representatives to table at the event in order to share with participants information about their work related to issues in DR Congo, and to provide information about other ways to become involved in the cause.

Also present in order to lend her support was Sarah Adkins from the Oregon Student Nurses' Association.



Participants making bones for One Million Bones
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

MORE THANK YOUS

Thank you to all of the participants who came out in support of Run for Congo Women. It was an amazing day, which would not have been possible without your support!  I hope to see you all next year (Save the date: 3.8.14).

I would also like to thank Bonnie Wilson from Run Oregon for taking time out of her busy schedule to participate in the event, and then write an event recap for the Run Oregon blog. Thank you Bonnie!

Bonnie Wilson finishing up the 10K
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Thank you to Kayla Smith for helping me with the event--you are an amazing friend and co-event organizer!  Thank you to Kevin Putnam for running the show at the after-event reception, and for your continued support of Run for Congo Women.  Thank you also to Laura Thomas, Downtown manager of Foot Traffic, for your guidance and support. Thank you Jeanne Kraje for your support and reassurance.  And last, but far from least, thank you to my family and coworkers who patiently put up with my over-the-top stress level in the weeks and days leading up to the event.  I will not ever forget your reassuring words and support!

Happy 5K finisher
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com

The Day I Received a Hug at Oregon's DEQ

It's been quite some time since I've felt compelled to sit down and pound out a blog post, however recently I've been inspired to write about the day I received a hug at the Clackamas, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Source of Photo: http://claysautoservice.com/deq-emission-testing/oregon-deq-hillsboro/

As some of you are aware, earlier this month I planned a charity event for Run for Congo Women (Team Congo PDX's Group 10K & 5K Walk/Run), and about a week before my event it was time to take my car to the DEQ for an inspection & to renew my registration (in Oregon you can do both at DEQ).

Let's step back a moment.  A week before my event I was a tad stressed.  Actually, that's an understatement. I was SUPER stressed, which was most notably manifested through my inability to handle any of life's derailments.  I did not have the capacity to let anything roll off of my back (my poor family and friends!).  I had been working on the event since September 2012, and the two months before the event were intense.  Every spare moment was filled with event planning details: before work, during breaks, after work and late into the evening. 

My day job is also often intense (I'm a litigation paralegal), and in addition to the regular-course stresses of the job, our office had undergone some transitions in personnel, and so work was a little more intense and stressful than usual.

Now, back to the day I went to the DEQ.  It was a peaceful Saturday morning, and I quite enjoyed the drive to the DEQ.  My mind was awhirl the entire drive with event todos for later in the day.  I pulled into the DEQ, pulled into Lane 5, and was relieved to see that the wait would not be long.  Soon it would be my turn...

The DEQ check started out well until the DEQ employee took a look at my paperwork. The DEQ employee looked at my car, and then back at the paperwork, quizzically.  A moment later it came to light that I had brought the incorrect paperwork.  Two cars in our household were due for DEQ/registration renewals, and I had neglected to make sure I had the correct paperwork! 

Gah!

I began to feel as though I was going to lose it, but composed myself when I realized that the DEQ inspection could go forward, I'd just have to send-in my registration renewal paperwork via mail.

No problem.  Just breathe, and remain calm. 

 

The DEQ employee announced that my car passed, and that I could now pay for the inspection.  There. Was. Just. One. Problem. I brought a check, but the DEQ (unlike the DMV), does not take checks, they only take cash or debit (the DMV, ironically, does not accept debit).

Are you kidding me? 

 

 Naturally, I did not bring my debit card (and at this point did not realize I actually had enough cash on me).  The DEQ employee nicely acknowledged that the "no check" policy was both confusing and inconvenient, but that the paperwork did state no checks.

Obviously I did not read it closely.

Meanwhile, my eyes were tearing up and I was in the midst of a full-on stress meltdown. I could only feel that this was not going as smoothly as planned, and could not see my way to a workaround (hence the pre-event SUPER stressed mindset).  I quietly, while holding back my tears, got into my car so that I could compose myself to figure out what to do.  "Drive safe..., "  is what I heard the DEQ employee say as I closed my car door.

Thankfully, there was a bank down the street & so I went in to get some cash.  The teller who waited on me had experienced the same annoyance the last time she went to DEQ (I have a feeling this bank sees a lot of DEQ-frustrated people).  I left with cash in hand to drive back down the road to the DEQ.

See, everything will be okay after all!

 

As I pulled into the DEQ (again), the gentleman at the gate paused a minute when I rolled down my window (he had just waived me through about 15 minutes prior...).  I told him I was back for round two & he sent me to Lane 2 where the wait, thankfully, was not long.

 

I got out and explained to the female DEQ employee that I had just been through, and no the paperwork was not correct, however, I'd like to pay for the inspection. 

 

And in that moment I lost it.  I just started to cry...
 

The DEQ employee came around out from her station, opened her arms & gave me a big hug, and told me everything would be alright.

And of course it was--I mean it wasn't like I wouldn't be able to renew my registration, and for goodness sakes my car passed!
 

I was too wrapped up in my stress meltdown to feel embarrassed or self conscious.  I simply felt relieved to be done with the DEQ trip, and heart warmed that this employee, who works with the public in a setting that brings out the worst in many of us, would take the time to comfort me.

I made the trek back to DEQ this weekend for car #2, and I find it no coincidence that I was waived to the lane of the same female DEQ employee who gave me a hug on that fateful day. Not surprisingly, she remembered me, and I was able to thank her for her kindness shown in a moment when I needed it most.