You're sitting at a stop light, waiting for the light to turn green. While there, you consider the roads your life has taken. You realize that maybe it's time for a change. Maybe you should alter your direction. Are you brave enough to take a necessary turn toward a new goal? Don't be afraid. The light is turning for you; just put the pedal to the floor. N.M. Corcoran's The Pedal on the Right is a collection of poems, short stories, and general observations that will inspire you to turn the wheel of life and head in the right direction. There is so much to learn and so much to love! For instance, in "DUH," Corcoran notes the difference between men and women behind the wheel; in "Amen," she retraces the life and death of a dear friend. This isn't another Chicken Soup for the Soul; this is hearty meat and potatoes for every inch of you-physical, emotional, and spiritual. It is easy to read, easy to share, and immeasurably useful as you hazard the crowded roads of your life. Whether in traffic or smooth sailing, we all need a pick-me-up now and then!

The Pedal on the Right

By N. M. Corcoran

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2011 N. M. Corcoran
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4269-6373-5

Contents

Thinking Out Loud.................................................................xThe Pedal on the Right ... just a bit of where and why...........................1A Plus ... finding balance.......................................................2DUH! ... driving lessons.........................................................4Help Yourself ... the importance of you..........................................5Life Destinations ... it's up to you.............................................6No Middle Road Here ... pick me - pick me!.......................................7Shuffle Up and Deal ... life's deck..............................................9Sing Off-Key Into the Wind ... looking back, looking forward.....................11The Great Do-Over's ... it is what it is.........................................13What A Man! ... bible blooper....................................................15Where Would They Live? ... medical housing.......................................17Laugh Out Loud....................................................................19Bless Me Father ... holiday mishap...............................................20Common Sense ... for the hearing impaired........................................21Have Broom, Will Travel ... creature wars........................................22Now You See It ... vision crisis.................................................24Porcelain Virus ... enough is enough.............................................26So Much for the Tub ... who lives like this?.....................................28The One That Got Away ... fishing lines..........................................32Trust Me! ... oom-pa-pa..........................................................34What Goes Around, Comes Around ... ladder of life................................35You bet! ... food for thought....................................................37Aches & Pain......................................................................39Amen ... letting go..............................................................40I Saw ... trust in the unknown...................................................41No One Dropped a House on Them ... truth or dream................................42Truth or Dream?...................................................................45Super Hearts ... heroes among us.................................................47Love Heals........................................................................50Angels Overlap ... the next frontier.............................................51Inquiring Minds Want To Know ... just thought I'd ask............................52May I Live ... grownup wish list.................................................53Sam I Am ... spirit energy.......................................................54Moving On.........................................................................55I Was Just A Kid ... clean slates................................................56It Works ... love that grey tape.................................................58My Choice ... every present has a past...........................................61Today It Is! ... choose your comfort zone........................................63

Chapter One

    The Pedal on the Right

    I think you can describe life as one big traffic light.
    Sometimes you can fly right through it.
    Sometimes you must heed the warnings and slow down.
    Sometimes you just have to stop.

    We will always face new paths to take.
    Without warning, our lives can instantly turn on a dime.
    Some turns will give us just cause for hyper ventilation.
    Either way, we need direction.

    In the end it all comes down to you.
    Choose a destination.
    Take a deep breath.
    Turn the key.

    Want to just sit and idle for awhile?
    It might be a good day to just wait a bit and get your bearings.
    You must decide.
    Are you ready to go for it?

    It's the pedal on the right.

A Plus

I spent many early mornings watching child-friendly cartoons with my children. We loved Dusty's Treehouse. He told simple stories with simple puppets. The messages were huge. One morning the storyline involved a small princess, who only existed to be perfect. She traveled from doctor to doctor to have a small blemish removed from her face. Each time she was advised that nothing perfect in this world can exist. Not to be discouraged, the princess finally convinced a doctor to remove her flaw. Once finished, she gazed in the mirror and stated that now she was truly perfect. And she disappeared.

I never cared for the 'P' word, as my friends who know me well will testify. That whole 'be perfect' concept is way more pressure than we need. Instead, I have found my comfortable nest in the Minus/Plus zone. I have learned to play an easier game.

Today's headlines may be full of negativity and sadness. I choose to bless the world that is still around me, and my loved ones that woke up in it. My stomach may be growling and I have to trudge on down to the kitchen to fix the problem. What a blessing to find food to eat. The backyard bird feeder may be running empty, but the blue jays are screaming to the others to come and eat while the getting's still good! The dogs have left me a present on the sidewalk that needs scooped. Reality check – they left it outside! Minus/Plus.

I overheard a woman in the store complaining that she was about to be a grandmother, again. She was hoping that her children would stop, commenting that she had had enough. I wanted to hit her. I wanted to scream about her minus attitude and the plus of that new child to be. Instead, I took a deep breath and made myself focus on the great sale I had found on a dinner dress, and my equally pleasant salesperson. Minus/Plus.

No huge issues are needed to find this balance. Keep it simple. Smile at a stranger. Be a plus by saying hello to the person sitting in the wheelchair by the door, waiting for their special transportation. Let someone out in traffic before you. It may cost you seconds, but it may gain them a plus. Smile at yourself. It may bring you a major sense of accomplishment. Do it for you. It only takes a second to play the game.

Face the bad. Ignoring it won't make it better, but dwelling on it is destructive. Try quickly to make a choice to follow it up with something good, no matter how small or trivial. Your heart will thank you. Your friends will thank you. Your world just may be a better place.

Dessert after meals is the perfect truth. It signals the end of the moment. It leaves a good taste in your mouth. It makes you feel full.

End your moments on a good note.

Fill up with a plus.

DUH!

Okay – I understand the HUGE difference in teaching methods for men's and women's driving school.

Women's school teaches that when approaching a STOP sign: Remove your foot from the gas Begin breaking to a final stop Count to three, look in all directions, and then proceed.

Men's school teaches to: See STOP sign Push harder on gas; fly to within 2 feet of said sign. Slam on breaks. *Since no obstacle has physically stopped your vehicle, immediately accelerate, preferably leaving tire squeal and dust.

Driving schools will come and go, and techniques will continue to differ. So be it. Live and learn. I vote that ONE concept will and should remain without question.

If this sign is facing you:

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

THE OTHER GUY GOES FIRST.

DUH!

Help Yourself

New Year's Eve brings promises of great change. People are known to dress in their 'make the world a better place' cloak and make solid promises of self betterment. Go for it. Any attempt, even a minute, at self improvement is a good thing.

I don't even try for anything new. I have stuck with the same resolution for years, my choice always being 'to make at least five people laugh a day'.

Sound simple? Try it sometime. You may already be doing it without realizing it, or are you making people as miserable as you are? I guess it depends on the day.

People need to laugh. Or smile. Or just feel good for a minute or two. So I tried the 'five people a day' rule. Most days it's way easy to accomplish. I don't mind being a fool of sorts. I do find humor in most things.

When I lost my dad in 1992, it was a struggle. Dark days bring dark moods. I remember riding in the final procession to the gravesite and hearing people laughing as we passed a local shopping area. I wondered how they could just keep on living when my world had stopped. It didn't make sense. Nor did the '5 people' rule. Like I said, I guess it just depends on the day.

Another New Year has come and gone. My resolution still remains the same. Life can kick me in the butt, but I still cling to the fact that I need to laugh, every single day. If someone else laughs with me – it's twice as good. Anyone is welcome to try it. Pick five people today and go for it. It may not always be easy, but you will make a difference – to yourself and to many others. It really does help.

Help yourself.

Life Destinations

Stop ~ Breathe ~ Live

Stop this minute by standing still. The world will continue to turn without you ... promise!

Breathe this minute, slow and deep. Listen to all that has not stopped.

Live this minute. It is yours. The next minute will find you all by itself.

Wishing you quiet moments as you discover ... Life Destinations

No Middle Road Here

May the great toilet paper battle rage on! It is a great distraction. I'm an over towards the front person. I have ruthlessly changed rolls around in my friends' homes. They have returned the favor in mine. It's a good thing to find nonsense moments; it helps to balance out all of the serious ones.

So goes the real vs. artificial Christmas tree syndrome. I grew up with real trees. We would all vie for the coveted watering the tree position. This job was never to be taken lightly, and was inevitably wrapped up tight with the 'If you don't water the tree it could catch on fire' speech. The slightest screw up could cost you your entire present pile, not to mention your home. I think the tree fear factor may have forced a few unauthorized feedings by wanting to be helpful hands. I suspect some tree angel that looked an awful lot like my dad must have wiped up the extra water piles while he bit his tongue really hard.

I stayed with the real tree façade long after I had my own children. I continued the tree-watering rule with equal importance. I find it funny how the idea that I was plugging in something sitting in water never dawned on me as odd. I did have my tree epiphany one late July. Shag carpets were big in the 70's. They were actually sold with rakes to help maintain them. It didn't help.

There I was, doing something barefoot in my living room. I know that lone pine needle must have been lying in wait, getting stronger and stronger with every passing day. It was safe in the shag trenches. What had been born to a soft pine life had taken on a coat of armor. It had petrified over the last 7 months. It had embedded itself in my big toe, and held its ground. I know I yelped. I probably cried for awhile. Betrayal is a hard emotion to live with, regardless of the source. Traditions are equally hard to end. That was the day I 'crossed over'.

I have accumulated a nursery of artificial trees in my attic. Every couple of years the manufacturers make them bigger and better and easier to assemble. This wonder tree can be born again every thanksgiving and return quietly, without mess, to the attic. Artificial trees are alive and well in my comfort zone. I know the battle will continue on. You either love them or hate them. Just like the toilet paper is either over or under.

Choose your side!

No middle road here.

Shuffle Up and Deal

Children come with their very own playing cards. Life is the dealer.

No one ever mentioned to me the basic rules of motherhood. It's pretty simple. If you don't eat your young, you have to raise them. I didn't eat my young. I am still learning about that raising thing.

It was good to discover the 'cards'. They do help to cover the big events in life. What child doesn't want to use the coveted 'Birthday Party' card? They must survive their 'Kindergarten', 'Grade School' and 'First Dance' card. The 'First Kiss' card is a keeper. Best to include the 'High School Graduation card'. This is hopefully followed by the all important 'College or Trade School' card. Somewhere in these rapid growth years, parents must face the overwhelming 'I need to borrow the car' card, and the inevitable 'The scratch isn't all that big' card.

Both of my children shuffled their youth decks wildly, prompting the 'You Better Call Your Lawyer' cards. If all goes well, young adults will soon choose to play their 'Get a Good Job' card, thus paving the way for the 'Move Out of the House' card.

We can only hope that our children will use only one 'Holy Matrimony' card. Not exactly dealing with a full deck, my daughter's first marriage was quickly followed by the 'Divorce' card. Brenda reshuffled her deck, quickly showing her 'Wild Card'. She remarried, and this second union involved a stepchild. She called frequently with questions concerning the 'Living with a Teenager' card.

Our son's death wrecked havoc on our worlds, including her second marriage. Brenda then played her 'All about me' card. She earned her master's degree in counseling, moved into her own apartment, got her finances in order and rediscovered her. She has since met the love of her life, and we will celebrate (with our 'Grandparents card') their new baby in the spring.

If the circle of life continues, our children will watch their children play the hands that they are dealt. How fitting. How logical.

Don't like the odds? Talk to the dealer. In the end it all comes down to

Shuffle Up and Deal.

Sing Off-Key Into the Wind

I'm amazed at life. I'm amazed at any new birth. I'm also amazed at how these new, innocent children will ever survive. Every generation has most likely looked at the newest and thought the same. We've all compared, and we're all convinced that we had it so much better.

We did.

We had tire swings that transformed energetic kids into Tarzan and Jane, or Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Or just lazy swinging in the summer sun & singing off-key to whatever wondered into our minds.

We were free to point a pretend gun formed from tiny fingers and play Cowboys and Indians without fear of being terrorists or being expelled from school.

We had penny candy that really did cost a penny. We could walk forever to the nearest store to purchase it without fear of kidnapping, molestation or 'time outs'.

We could line up, dress up and have parades in our basements to entertain the smiling parents that would sit and cheer our efforts. They would applaud the buckets on our heads, old sheet capes on our backs and broomstick batons. Any bathrobe would be an instant uniform. And any small baby could be fastened in a knapsack to an older child's back and become the Indian's papoose.

All animals that met with untimely deaths were honored with long marches around the home grounds before being laid to rest in the fields. All were covered with wildflowers and markers. All would fade into memory, but we learned at young ages about letting go.

Our cribs and playpens were probably not lead proof. Seatbelts were not regulated and flying over bumps in the road was a prime source for massive giggles.

Adult phrases were taken literally. I remember being scared to death and praying profusely in the car from a night travel with my family. My father had said that looking at the headlights from other cars could blind you. I remember it being a long drive home. I couldn't imagine daddy not being able to drive if he were blind. I know I figured it out eventually, but fear factors were different then.

May every new birth bring a new miracle of hope to this planet. May every child continue to come with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man. May they learn that buckets on their heads, old bathrobes and homemade parades can be a good thing.

May they be blessed to find a tire swing, and sing off-key into the wind.

The Great Do-Over's

It's hard for me to understand devastation by nature. Not because I don't watch the news and see the pictures. Not because I live a privileged life. I live in Pennsylvania. We have bad storms and microbursts. We survive winter blizzards and wear t-shirts that proudly display this fact. I know of one good tornado touchdown in my lifetime. My children and I sat in the dark with flashlights playing cards while the storm raged outside. We didn't even know until the next day that there was a tornado. We did drive through the area that had been hit. I know I was overwhelmed by the uprooting of trees and misplaced homes. Time and new construction have erased the physical evidence of that angry weather day. All that remains now are the pictures in my mind.

I recently traveled to Cozumel, a repeat January vacation for me. One year prior I had walked the long concrete pier, and dangled my feet over the edge. I sat for hours in that spot over the course of a week, feeding the fish & having conversations with scuba divers as they would emerge from their shallow dives. Some brought me seashells. Some would just display items that they had found lying on the bottom, before releasing them back to their watery graves.

In 2005, Hurricane Wilma shook up this world. Restaurant manager Alberto told us how they had stayed with the guests, with no way in or no way out. This raging storm covered them for three days and three nights. He filled up when he described walking through his hometown with his wife and child after the storm. He said that she had cried. I suspect that he had cried too.

I stood and looked at the spot where that long pier had been. The power of the wind and rain was overwhelming. The pier and lights and chairs were gone. How could that be? Nature had moved a concrete mountain.

The walkways are now new, as are the paint and the thatched roofs of the outdoor pavilion. They are rebuilding the outdoor cooking area, used for the fiestas. Some units have new doors and furniture. Tons of concrete and sand have made new and strong what was once old and familiar. It is all done with a great pride, as the photographs of smiling faces on the wall record the rebirth.

I am not a scuba diver like my husband, or this dive group that we travel with. I have tried this labor-intensive sport, only to realize that it takes a passion far greater than any I could give to it. Other divers have tried to encourage me to share their love. I quietly explain that taking a sometimes emotionally unstable person under water 100 feet and giving her a knife is probably not a good idea. My husband John agrees with that logic. My interests are different than his, but passion is passion, so I do understand their 'urge to submerge'. I look forward to their stories of the magical underworld that they explore.

This time it was different. The divers spoke of the newness of once familiar and sometimes staged scenery. The underwater displays were gone. Duane talked of how the sands had shifted and uncovered a whole new world to photograph. The divers were comparing the fish they had seen. Jeanne spoke of a 5 ft. spotted manta ray, a true storm survivor from the age and size. I was taken most by the baby angel fish that she described, baby being the key word. Such is the circle of life. Nature will always find a way.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Pedal on the Right by N. M. Corcoran Copyright © 2011 by N. M. Corcoran. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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