Gary Hates Mercury Retrograde

Thank goodness the recent period of Mercury Retrograde is over! This one was more challenging than usual for Gary, who hates the whole "concept" of the phenonmenon. Astrology is where you find the most information about Mercury's retrograde periods which happen about three times a year and are always about three weeks long. The planet slows it's orbit and appears to be going backwards, hence the term "retrograde." Astrologers and some physicists believe this has an impact on the earth's energy fields, especially those related to communication. Mercury rules communication, so lots of communication glitches seem to happen during these times. Computers crash. Car alarms go off in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. We can't remember where we parked our cars in a big lot. Our words get jumbled while we try to talk. Fender benders and weird kinds of accidents happen, most of which are not life-threatening, but can be extremely annoying.

Gary used to think it was hogwash. Over the years, though, he's learned that perhaps there is some merit to Mercury Retrograde theory, particularly as a rationale for all things more irritating than usual. Take his experience last week with a porta-potty.

Construction sites usually feature those wonderful blue portable "restrooms." Gary has one at a job he's currently managing. Well, last week he arrived for an early meeting and it had been knocked over, either by a car or by bratty teenagers in the neighborhood. Thankfully, it was "sealed" and nothing had leaked out to cause neighborhood evacuation. Gary called the porta-potty company to come set it up again.

Later that morning after Gary's meeting, it still wasn't upright, so he decided to be a hero for his construction workers in need. UNFORTUNATELY, as he was bringing it back into place, the door flew open and Gary was doused in sewage from his shorts to his shoes. He raced to a hose and tried his best to wash off, but ended up putting the shoes and socks in the back of his truck, then had to drive the 45 miles back home sitting on a plastic trash bag. When he got home, he promptly put his clothes in the garbage, his shoes in the washing machine with detergent and bleach, and took a very long, soapy shower. Then he sanitized his truck and finally, drove back to work.

When he got home that night, he actually had a drink with me, and we toasted Mercury. He's a believer now!