Trena Eiden

Yesterday I bought seven large containers of strawberries to make jam. Today while making jam, I realized I hated the me who bought them yesterday. 

I read an article about traits of grounded people. These folks tend to be emotionally healthy and unshakable. During a crisis, we need people who are calm, and won’t lose their cool. I’ve watched emergency medicine shows and when the helicopter lands, the doctor calmly hops down, unhurriedly walks to the person with blood on his face and a bone sticking out of his leg, and kindly states, “Hey, we’re here to make things better, I just need you to relax and leave the heavy lifting to us.” I’m always mesmerized by these doctors’ quiet persona and gentle demeanor. I’d want to be like that. I’m not sure that I am, but I’d want to be. 

Before Gar and I do something that could go south, I play things out in my head. When he makes me do something I don’t want to do, like crawl on my belly under a trailer to cut wires, while he threads a new set of lights, I tell him, “I’m not happy doing what I’m doing so just know if you break your leg,  I’m dragging you to the trailer and using the winch to hoist you on, then hauling you to the doctor. When your leg heals you can finish the job.” 

One time in the middle of summer when he made me help him on a roof, I mentioned it was hot as the surface of the sun. He took a deep breath, exhaled then nodded, “Ya it’s probably too hot for us to be doing this.” I watched him a second then said, “If you have a heart attack and fall off this roof, I’m crawling down the ladder and jumping on your chest till you open your eyes. I’m not doing this by myself.” He carries a pained expression when he works with me, but apparently, I’m grounded because I’m real calm when I’m mean. 

The article I read on grounded people said they tend to be reliable. I’m that. I always show up to the job and I don’t make excuses for being late. I merely state, “Sorry I’m late, I didn’t wanna come.” I also use, “Sorry I’m late, I knew this would suck.” People always think I’m kidding. Heck no I’m not. 

Grounded people tend to make wise choices so they don’t regret doing stupid things I like to do fairly often. I have the habit of sticking my phone in my pants’ waistband. I’m usually in stretchy jeans, which honestly have no choice, and it generally works fairly well as a pocket other than when it dislodges and slides down my leg to my sock. Unfortunately, there’s another scenario that creates a little dilemma. 

As I left work last Wednesday, I stopped at the store to grab a beef stick to eat on the long ride home. I used the bathroom, paid for my purchase and was 5 miles down the road when I realized I didn’t have my phone. My brain immediately was informed by God that 10 minutes ago, I’d laid it above the toilet paper roll so I could pull my pants down. I flipped a U-turn and headed back. Did I speed? Why yes, I did. Did I weave in and out of traffic? Also, yes. I prayed that Jesus would hide my phone from any (hopefully) women who went into that stall. Like those doctors in the helicopter, I jumped from my seat and unlike those doctors, I raced for the store. Entering the bathroom stall, my eye immediately saw my phone happily napping, waiting for me to come for it like it gets left all the time. 

Grounded folks are also humble with a healthy self-esteem. I hope I have those in my toolbox. I drive a vehicle with 250,000 miles on it that’s a little rough looking, but I’ve had her since she was a baby and I don’t let anyone belittle her.    

Grounded people don’t worry (Gar says I don’t because he worries enough for both of us). They stand up for what’s right, which I love doing even if it makes others wish I was dead. They aren’t concerned if people like them. What would be the point in that, you can’t please everyone. And last, they’re happy seeing others succeed. We know I’m not a good person, but maybe grounded people are just showoffs, because I’m really mostly happy for others’ success, when I’m frolicking in it myself.