Please disregard the flippant title of this post. It's just attention-seeking behavior. But seriously, after the day I've had, I just want to say that I will never again make snide comments about cops that are unwarranted (the warranted ones will continue, unabated).The reason? It's easy. I just spent two days in Vail attending a Safe Schools seminar. Upon arrival on Thursday afternoon, I parked my car and forgot about it. This morning, two rather emotional-packed days later (it's hard not to get teary-eyed when hearing stories from father's whose children were victims of school shootings--by other children. I'll be doing another post on this soon.), I hopped in to find my battery dead. Expletives followed--those who know me can well imagine the variety and creativity of said expletives--then reason returned and I set out to find someone who might be able to give me a jump.Lo and behold, just across from me was an officer getting into his Windsor Police Suburban. Perhaps it's due to my rampant juvenile delinquency or an innate and deeply-ingrained cynical distrust of authority, but I've never trusted or appreciated people in uniform (yes, you may laugh at the irony). But I figured what the hell? It was almost a certainty that this gentlemen would have jumper cables, and, my hopeful mind reasoned, isn't it a cop's duty to help those in need, or something?So I asked for his help and not only was he willing, but absolutely happy to. Wow. I've never felt so simultaneously silly for leaving my lights on, chagrined for all the senselessly zealous anti-cop statements I've made, and exuberantly grateful. It was a fun mix of emotions, let me tell you.I just wanted to give a shout out to Officer Lopez from Ft. Collins for being so awesome and helpful today--and all people who go out of their way, even inconvenience themselves, to lend a hand to someone who needs it. He's about to become the School Safety Office and had gone through the same two days of training as I. I've no doubt he was just as anxious to hit the road and get home to his two year old and wife, but he took the time to quickly and cheerfully help a chick out. How fantastic.To top it all off, when I stopped for lunch at Quizno's, guess what I discovered after I had already ordered? Yup, forgot my wallet. But you know what the Quizno's guy said? Don't worry about it, just pay for it next time you're in. It has certainly been my day for good fortune!I'm working on paying that good karma bill already and just let my own neighbor know he'd left his lights on. Even if no one had lent me a much needed hand today, there's one thing I can say for sure: it feels damn good to do others a favor when you can.
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