Our trip to Vermont was the climax of a long engagement. The arrangements were in place to take off work, and school, and all that remained was to pack the car. As chance would have it the rain had leaked into the back of the van, something which had never happened before. Hence the need to go after the puddle with a shop vac and hairdryer. All day. This in turn meant that the doors were open. All day. By evening the carpet was dry but the internal lights were off. The battery was dead. Routine jumper cables did not resuscitate it, so my mind jettisoned into back up plans like renting a car. Hang the expense. John was calmer and called the mechanic. 

Not everyone has a long history with their mechanic, but with a string of vehicles all trying to hang on into their second and even third decade let's just say we have given him a lot of business. He came right over. Yes, he knows where we live. After a few pokes he said everything would be solved with a new battery. No charge.  

In the morning we left with one fresh off the shelf, and headed north. The conditions were ideal, having missed rush hour, with clear skies and the fiery evidence on the hills that change was in the air.  Five of our kid were driving later in the afternoon,  and the others arrived on their own time frame so it was just me, John and Benjamin.

We arrived at the Airbnb before nightfall, which made it easier to navigate the winding roads. It was a rustic yet classy farmhouse, with chickens in the yard, sheep with bells around their necks, and a woodstove. Airbnbs are different from hotels in that someone lives there. So little amenities like sugar and band aids are in the cupboards.  I loved it. 

Except that the dog had apparently been in when he wanted to be out. Proof of this was on the rug in the master bedroom, and it threw me. I was annoyed.

Had I stopped long enough to make a list of positives and negatives it would be seriously lopsided. Easily a hundred to one. Yet I was letting an inconvenience skew this much anticipated weekend. 

The next day another person got feisty about something. A minor inconvenience. I had opinions about it, wishing they would just get over it and enjoy the beauty all around us. Then I remembered. Oh yeah. I had picked annoyed over gratitude not fifteen hours before. Seeing this scenario played out in front of me helped me have perspective on myself. Annoyance is a thing, separate from me. I can choose to pick it up, or walk right past. 

Because who needs a noid anyway?