I've been stranded and stopped and stuck in my tracks.  I've been hungry and hapless and hung out to dry.  But never for so long that I couldn't see the end of it, and never for so short that I didn't thank my lucky stars.
Compared to the conglomerate of goings on in global headlines this past month, the goings on in little ol' Victoria and in the life of a little 'ol editor seem smaller than little. 
I wonder how many of us in Gazette Land have ever felt as stranded as those Russian sailors stuck in a submarine in the depths of the sea, enveloped by darkness, dampness, and dread, oxygen supply so low that simple conversation was limited.  I'm remind-ed of Sean Connery in "Hunt for Red October."
I wonder how many of us in Gazette Land have ever felt as stranded as those American astronauts on the spaceship Discovery, stuck in space twisting and turning far away from planet earth, protective tiles damaged on take-off, unable to return to their homeland when scheduled or where scheduled.  I'm reminded of Tom Hanks in "Apollo 13."
I wonder how many of us in Gazette Land have ever felt as stranded as those New Orleaners stuck on the rooftops of their homes, unable to sleep or rest without fear of rolling away in the night, flood waters from Hurricane Katrina filled with feces and fuel oil lapping at the shingles.  I'm reminded of George Clooney in "Perfect Storm."
I wonder how many of us in Gazette Land have ever felt as stranded as those Texans heading north out of Houston and Galveston, away from Hurricane Rita, stuck on Interstate 45 in the worst traffic jam in U.S. history, out of gas, sweltering in 100-degree temp-eratures among the cactus and oil wells.  I'm reminded of Peter O'Toole in "Lawrence of Arabia."
I wonder how many of us in Gazette Land have ever felt as stranded as those Southern Californians breathing the smoldering smoke as wildfires burn over 24,000 acres near Los Angeles, hot dry winds roaring in from the desert, multi-million dollar real estate going up in flames, people packing up and getting out of harm's way, stuck with ashes and rebuilding.  I'm reminded of Scarlet O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind."
After all of that, do I dare tell you how I've been stranded this summer? 
At least twice I couldn't back my car out of our garage because of a huge hardscape project in our yard and the contractor needed our apron-turnaround to park his equipment.  I was stranded inside my house for an entire morning.
At least seven times I couldn't find a parking space in downtown Victoria near the Post Office because everybody else was taking up all the spaces.  I was stranded in a circular pattern driving  from Rose to Stieger to Quamoclit to Main for many minutes.
At least twice I got behind a slowpoke at the checkout counter in a grocery store, with the person ahead of me having endless troubles getting all of her coupons and money working together at the same time.  I was stranded in line forever it seemed.
At least twice I sat at Victoria City Council meetings, glued to my chair, listening to chapter and verse on snowmobiling and road washouts, unable to leave until after adjournment, loyalty and dedication preventing my escape.  I was stranded with my notebook and pen for nine hours.
One time I stood in line at the movie theater, ready to purchase two tickets, Allan outside parking the car, the smell of fresh buttered popcorn wafting everywhere inside but not one of the titles was attractive or enticing.  I was stranded without a decent movie and without popcorn until we got back home to our own big screen.
Twelve times I stood in front of my refrigerator, hungry for something that wasn't in sight, not an apple, not a plum, not a tomato, tired of tiny carrots, opening and shutting the door as though a Snickers bar would magically appear.  I was stranded in that condition for most of a week.
I'm reminded of Julie Andrews in "Mary Poppins," and Alice in "Alice in Wonderland," and Kathy Bates in "Fried Green Tomatoes."  I'm reminded of Maureen O'Hara in "The Quiet Man" and Donna Reed in "It's a Wonderful Life."
Whoever said that life isn't like the movies??  It is like the movies.  And only sometimes do we get to pick our own seat.
                                                               ~Sue