Interlude (1) : Circumstances Change Cases:

Pills and Beans,

"Pills and Beans!"...."Pills and Beans!

It may seem odd but this is what I was repeating to myself like a mantra as I drove up the road this morning.

I was on my way to my 'other' home. I have two homes in Australia: one where I live and one where the rest of my dependants live-although who is dependant on who is a moot point these days.

I forget things unless I talk to myself-hence the mantra.

I was irritable-angry even. I had forgotten to stop to buy my bean salad, which is the staple of my diet at present, and I had forgotten to take my pills.

I was on my way to get my vehicle registered and the ownership transferred. I slowed down and stopped: cursing under my breathand out loud at the motorists around me. The traffic was horrendous. I briefly thought to myself:

"Maybe I shouldn't do this today." (I have a knack of fighting with public officials who don't measure up to my expectations.)

Apathy triumphed and I continued. I couldn't find the place even though I thought I knew where it was. I was furious. As usual there was no-one on the street to ask for directions-there never is in Australia-its almost empty. Eventually, I parked and went in to a shop and asked someone the way.

Inside, I waited for ten minutes with my numbered ticket observing the people around me.

Everyone was being so polite with each other: the customers and the officials and yet I felt so homicidal! One elderly customer even stopped right in front of me and thanked an official for the excellent service! In a Government department? My jaw dropped open.

What is wrong with me? Why do I feel so irritable and hostile?

Eventually my number was called.

"G'day mate, how can I help you?"

"Gday, just 'Rego' and transfer of ownership please"

"No worries" mate said the official behind the desk. His manner was genial.

After a minute or two of him looking closely at the form I began to suspect that something was wrong and I was going to be asked for the inevitable extra piece of paper or at least the unanswerable question.

He said

'Donald?'

"Yes"

"Did you know that you are expected to transfer ownership of a new vehicle within fouteen days of buying the vehicle?

"No", I lied.(I had just read it thirty minutes ago on the form when I was filling it-but I wasn't going to tell him that.)

"There is a sixty-six dollar penalty for late transfer"

"Oh good. Thanks, I said sarcastically.

"No worries mate" he added quickly. "I'm not going to charge you. Just so you know the next time!"

"Are you sure?" I said.

"No worries mate-I'm not going to lose my job over it"


Now, that is what I respect: someone who is willing to break the rules even if it means taking a slight risk at one's own expense. That really inspires me inthe age of the mindless bureaucrat.

"Circumstances Change Cases" my friend Lev used to say to me.

I left the office smiling-in a completely different frame of mind from the one in which I had arrived.

My morning had changed entirely.

As I drove down the road, an unusual bumper sticker on the car in front of me caught my eye.

I put my foot on the accelerator and inched forward - peering at the sticker over my steering wheel.

It said:

"Practice random acts of kindness"

"Yes", I thought

"How powerful that is!".

Maybe that is how we change the world.