Jehovah Jireh, my Provider (Ode to Amanda)

well folks, here I am down in South Beach (Miami)... and before I get started with my usual silliness, I must pay tribute to the person who has made this blog possible. And to think, I hadn't even met her an hour ago. But, let me start at the beginning...

So, I drove my workmate (Bethany), an associate (Kate), and myself from Lakeland to here today. And I must say, this day has seemed to be the pinnacle of my recent trend towards airheadedness. I really don't know what's come over me lately, although I have an idea. Anyways, after a very illogical route out of town, turning around because I thought we had missed our turn- only to have to re-turn around when it was discovered we hadn't, and then freaking everyone out by thinking I had left my company credit card in Ruby Tuesdays, I was feeling glad to be in this very romantic and idyllic place with everything seemly in order for tomorrow. After dinner I had come back to my room to download my pictures and blog away, when I realized that my computer was nearly out of battery and I had left my power cord (presumably) in my office at work. Now, the thought of this made me very sad. So I walked down to the garage where my car is very expensively boarded for the evening and asked the valet to bring it back so I could look for my power cord. Not there. So then I asked the valet where to go to try and buy another one. He tells me Lincoln street and that the stores should still be open (although it is 10:30). Somehow, this does not seem strange here. I hop in my car and drive down to Lincoln only to find many stores open, but not the ones that sell electronics. At this point I am getting very sad and mad at myself. I drive around a little more hoping to find one shining beacon of electronics-selling glory. Then I see radio shak- lit up like the sun. Hooray, I think! I begin to frantically look for a place to park my car and finally find one around the block. I proceed to walk down to radio shak (and sometimes run). Not open. Stupid tease. I am even more sad/mad. boo. Then I decide to walk a little further in that same direction. Just to walk, I guess, because at this point it doesn't look like I'll be spending any time on my computer tonight. I am walking and feeling frumpy from my long drive and gross next to the fabulousness of everyone passing me. I pass 3 girls talking about dancing. About 10 steps past them I realize that one of them was my friend Stephanie Zungre from NYC. I hear her voice. I turn around. Stare. Commence walking after them. Listening, trying to see her face to be sure. Then I see her purse and remember it from the city. Stephanie? I meekly call. OH. MY. GOSH! she says. And it's her. And we talk. And I actually had met one of the other 2 girls before on my first night in NYC- we talked about Uganda that night! weird. So they ask me what I'm doing. I tell them about the cord disaster and lo, and behold, the other girl (AMANDA!!!) says a little while later: I have a Toshiba. Do you just need to borrow it and charge your battery? Yes, says I. So, sweet, ballet-girl Amanda, who I literally just met in the street offers to hop in my car and have me drop her at her apartment so she can loan me her charger. I will take it back tomorrow morning. After we exchange cell numbers, she reaches to shut the door and says "God bless you". As I now sit happily at my trusty computer, at least for this night anyway, it is very easy to see how He sooo HAS. Goodnight all! Photos are coming soon!