If you’re from around these parts (these parts being my home state of Tennessee), you might know that a defensive back for the Tennessee football team managed to break the jaw of the UCLA quarterback when he sacked him. The Vols lost that game, but the fans found some enjoyment in the fact that their team at least did some physical damage and managed to get a 2-point safety play out of it. In the game the very next week one of Tennessee’s starting wide receivers had his jaw broken AND the Vols lost the game.

Dwell on that for a second while I change the subject, sorta.

I’d like to think when it comes to being wronged I’m pretty good at forgiving and eventually forgetting, even if the latter part takes a while. I’d hope any of the people I wrong take the same approach. Even when I can’t completely forget something that’s upset me, I can usually put it out of my mind for a while. But every so often you’re forced to confront what’s happened. Something reminds you of the event, or worse, you run into the person responsible.

Such was the case earlier this week for me. I won’t go into detail about with whom or how I crossed paths because the details aren’t necessary.

The thing is, I just really wanted to sock the person. One good, hard round upper cut and be done with it.

Now, I’m not an aggressive person in any way. I’ve never punched or slapped anyone in my life. The most physical sport I’ve ever played was intramural football — oh wait, that is kind of aggressive — but I was the one who would attempt to pull our quarterback away from whomever she was attempting to punch. I can’t think of any times I’ve ever had the urge to resort to violence, but good gracious I wanted to pop this person.

It was all about karmic retribution. This person did something that was a huge shot to my pride without appearing to miss a beat. I wanted to return the favor. It wasn’t anything that’s done any lasting damage, but I just knew — KNEW — I’d feel better.

Did I do it? I’ve done it a dozen times in my head since then. But of course I didn’t actually do it. Modern gals don’t punch people unless it’s in self defense.

When I found out the next day about the wide receiver’s jaw, the first thing I wondered was if it was the universe’s own little justice system meting out punishment. Obviously the defensive back did not physically break his own teammate’s jaw, but the timing of it all was uncanny.

I wonder if the universe has already taken care of business somehow on my behalf. Universe, if you have, I’d like to know about it.

I just hope I’m not in line for some retribution for all those mental punches.