What…Yoda?
I searched my entire blog repeatedly thinking I wrote a post on my friend the crossing guard. I found nothing. I know I told the story somewhere on the Net because I specifically remember getting advice on the matter. So I will tell it again.
I think it’s only considerate to give a friendly wave to the people you see everyday on the same course you drive to work, even if you don’t know them. On my way to work my path would cross with one particular lady, a school crossing guard. She would stand on the corner diagonal from my car at a four-way stop. I started waving to her a few months after seeing her at the same time every morning. She seemed friendly, talking to other pedestrians, and waving to other’s in cars. But me? I didn’t get one wave.
I was bewildered as to why she chose me to ignore. It wasn’t like she couldn’t see me, and if the weather was warm it meant my window was down, and my arm was hanging out of the door. She had to have seen me wave then. But still, she did not wave back. I would swerve my car, still nothing. I would wave my arm vigorously out of the window, still nothing. I would beep, give her the finger, and bang my head against the steering wheel, but still not one freaking wave.
This went on for six months, at which point, it was making me very upset until one morning when I realized the possible reason for her rejection towards me. Do you want me to tell you my astonishing findings? The woman was crossed eyed. No, seriously, she was crossed eyed, so if she was facing directly towards me she couldn’t see me.
As bad as I felt for the evil thoughts I had towards this woman for not recognizing me I was on a mission. A mission to get this lady to wave to me. And lo and behold a month later the short red-haired crossed eyed crossing guard slipped me a wave. I was in shock…ecstatic. I was so happy that I drove around the block just to tell her that she made my day. That I’ve been trying to get her to wave to me for six friggin months. I was so elated by her kind gesture that I went out that weekend and bought her a plant. Yes, I did. Monday morning I pulled to the side of the road, got out of my car and presented her with this gift. She backed up as if she was frightened, but I assured her that I wasn’t crazy, that I just wanted to give her this plant, a gift that she could plant in her yard and every time she looked at it she would remember the not-so-crazy person whose life she touched with one simple wave.
I asked her name and she replied, “Kloda.” Hm…How will I ever remember that name, I thought. Well, it begins with the same letter as mine and it rhymes with Yoda from Star Wars. Shut up that’s how I remember things. It makes sense to me.
A couple of months later I quit my job and would probably never see her again. Until a month ago when I was on my way to a funeral and had to travel the common path that led me to my friend. I slowed my car, rolled down my window and yelled, “Hi Yoda how are you?”
She said, “I’m doing fine. Are you back to work again?”
“No, I on my way to funeral but you have a nice day. It was nice to see you again, Yoda.”
Yup, you heard me right I called her Yoda, not once, but twice, and who knows probably more than that. I was on the phone at the time with my sister, and she pointed out what a funny name that was. It didn’t dawn me until later that I called her the wrong name.
My friend just laughed and was happy to see me. I wonder if she still has the plant I gave her.
The summer’s end always brings a feeling of emptiness to my inner being. It’s a feeling that gnaws at my soul that something will be left behind; something you really don’t want to let go of. Rightfully so, as time moves on there are always things left behind. It usually passes in a week or so and I move on with my life preparing for the next season.
This summer is a little different. This summer brought me new adventures, new friendships and new insight into my life. I know the things that were brought to me this summer, the friendships and the reconnection with old family members will stay with me for the duration. But as the doors close at work for the season, I’ll only have the distant memories of each passing summer’s day, until we meet again the next season.
With each changing season it’s like one door closes and a new one opens. The old saying, out with the old and in with the new is supposed to be a good thing. The trouble I’m having this year is that I don’t want my door to close. I want it to stay open. I have unfinished business that I don’t want to left behind.
If the door closes what new adventures await me? What becomes of the things that I don’t want left behind?
Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!
– Kalidasa
Picture it, Sicily 1920
Picture it, Sicily 1920. I spent the day at a hospital, sitting in the Solarium with family I barely knew just to keep them company because their mom, my cousin, who for some reason after all of these years has brought me to her, is fighting for her life down the hall in the intensive care unit.
That does not hold true today.
Although, I was told, I’m much like the younger one, there are two sides of the brain. And as much as I am like the younger one, I’m as equally like the older one. I’ve discovered this on that day at the hospital. What an amazing human being. I admire her courage and strength to make it through each day.
The binoculars were a hit but good Lord no one keeps their doors open. What’s up with that? How do they expect the families to keep themselves entertained while they sit there day in and day out? Not everyone has a cousin like me. We didn’t listen to the music I brought but that wouldn’t have made a difference to the deaf people sitting behind us. It must have been the spell book I pulled out of the bag that chased them away.
I was fed good food, pretzels and cheese, crackers and cheese, potatoes chips and barbeque Doritos. This could be why I still haven’t shit, yet. The thing is there is no happy medium. If I take the fiber I’m supposed to take I’ll have to wait it out. So then I get frustrated and take a laxative which I need to be careful with because mixing natural fiber pills with a laxative ends up having you shit yourself. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
I left the hospital that day feeling pretty good. I do have hope that Roe will be home soon one day. And if she does I hope for at least one more day with her. I know it will be a while before she has strength to see me but I’ll wait as long as it takes. There are no words to express my feelings for friends I found in family.
Love forever.
Peace out.
A Different Kind of World 