Shit happens...

Many years ago I was doing an early morning jump at the Mossel Bay Skydiving Club. We usually did a jump before the first students arrived, giving them something to look forward to on their first lesson and first jump. I was on the ground already when the jumpmaster came down and did an extra one or two hook turns very close to the ground. He was very experienced but after six months in traction he still wouldn't admit that he was bit careless that day...blamed it on the wind. Anyway, after the rush to get him in an ambulance and off to the hospital the crowd had grown a bit with new students that had arrived and who unfortunately, had also just witnessed his fall. Obviously thinking that they would be scared off, another instructor, or rather a fellow jumper acting as a instructor, asked them if they are ready for their class. Obviously they weren't very keen to continue after what they had just witnessed before their very eyes. As it was quite clear that they were leaving, the fellow jumper acting as an instructor said "Hey, shit happens!" to which one of the would-be students, a girl in her early 20's replied with "Well, this shit is not going to happen to me today". She got into her car with her 5 friends and drove off.

Anyway, the point I’d like to make is that you don't always have a choice as to whether or not this shit is going to happen to you, for example, take a look at this poor truck driver who had just lost his load in the middle of the only access road to the offices where I work. Fortunately for me I was on the home side of the truck and not like my colleagues who were on the other side. Hadn't they removed the truck at least I would've been able to go home and they would've been stuck for some time.

This whole episode made me think of how easy things can go wrong. What if you had to be at the airport and you couldn't get past? Or if someone was expecting you and got upset because you had not arrived? Fortunately most of us have mobile phones, but would the pilot delay a flight because a truck driver had a shitty day? I doubt it. Sometimes things are not in our hands and we always need to have the facts before we make assumptions...or get upset. But like my friend the fellow jumper acting as an instructor, I want to hang on to his words because somethimes shit happens and there is nothing you can do about it. So if you make it home safely tonight, think of all the shit that possibly could've happened today and never did and be thankful. And if you miss your plane or anyone is pissed off because you didn't make it in time....merely shrug your shoulders and say "Hey, shit happens!"