Every time this has happened I am ashamed and embarrassed because I know better. You would think after the first time, or even the second time at most, a person would get the message, learn their lesson and make the appropriate changes to insure such a situation does not occur again. Although the fact patterns may be quite different, I never-the-less picked up another DWI last month and the only person deserving of blame looks back at me in the mirror. There is no escape from who is responsible.

Having had previous experience with such matters I was painfully aware of the embarrassment that would follow and fully anticipated a compounding of that humiliation because I still had 5 months to serve on my four year term with the Community Services District as a public official. (Thanks to intervention by a neighbor during the last episode the negative consequences were undoubtedly reduced.)

I predicted this last one was going to carry a much heavier financial burden than prior incidents and I was absolutely correct. Ouch! Taking responsibility for one’s action or omission to act is not only legally required but necessary in the healing process of forgiving yourself and moving forward with life. Such was the case yesterday when I put a good dent in my plastic credit card by paying what I owed. I swore to be more diligent in the future.

As with most things in life that we would probably prefer not to be involved, if one looks hard enough you might discover a silver lining to an otherwise negative experience. Although apprehensive that someone might not read carefully, understand my thought process, or appreciate my form of expression, I post this blog with the hope it may help others avoid the pitfalls of momentary inattention which can carry punishing results, both emotionally and financially.

“Over-riding” the preset on an irrigation timer by loosening the bleed screw might be a quick and easy way to provide temporary “off schedule” water to thirsty trees (on permitted watering days of course), however, being distracted by something else and forgetting to tighten it back down defeats the whole purpose of installing the equipment in the first place.

All the dedicated conservation efforts and resulting savings for a month or so can easily be lost with only one Distracted While Irrigating incident.

Despite the fact my Leland Cypress trees have not looked better in years (the silver lining that there was at least a beneficial use to the accident) I would have never considered using that much water for their continued survival.

I hereby officially “reset the clock” on my conservation efforts with the following personal caveat:

THOU SHALT NOT LOOSEN THE BLEED SCREW WITHOUT REMAINING AT THAT LOCATION UNTIL RETIGHTENING!

My best to you and yours, Lew