Have you ever wondered about the truth behind sayings like “They’ll get theirs, you’ll see”, “Karma’s a bitch”, and “What goes around, comes around”?  Who came up with these? And why? Is Karma for sure a female? Does she have her own publicist? And how does she feel, exactly, about being called a bitch all the time?

During a spate of awfulness in my life which I have come to refer to as The Dark Years, I heard these phrases repeatedly from well-meaning and supportive friends. They wanted me to believe that those who had wronged me would pay the price for their bad behavior – it was just a matter of time.

Sure, I had seen movies with fictional The Bad Guy Gets It In The End story lines, but I had no solid frame of reference by way of concrete believable examples from my own experiences, or of anyone in my circle of friends. With no anecdotal evidence, no proof of Karma’s photo or social security number….. how could others be so positive she existed, was competent, and wasn’t planning to retire before she could exact justice in my case? Where was the guarantee?

So I wasn’t exactly comforted by those same Karmic phrases when The Dark Years grew even darker. Instead of pinning my hopes on Karma’s brand of justice, I channelled my energies into attacking the ever-growing Hard Things I Gotta Do List, one exhausting item at a time.  I concentrated my efforts into things I felt I could control while maintaining my course on the High Road (which, by the way, I have found is a lot less crowded than its lower counterpart).

Fast forward now to my new location; smack-dab in the middle of what I call the Karma Parking Lot – which resembles an old drive-in. I’m metaphorically lounging with other like-minded individuals looking for information and entertainment.  I have an unobstructed view of the screen, (also known as The Present) where I see all or many of the mean-spirited Dark Years characters directing their nastiness, and jealous small-minded judgments onto each other in full view of the huge audience.  I see overacting, stunned comeuppance and more than a little drama. I don’t need the giant speaker attached to my lowered window because I don’t listen to them anymore. I can be amused and detached because their lives no longer touch mine. I can leave anytime I want but they are stuck playing their lame selves until they find new roles. The casting director?  It’s Karma.