It was a slow week as far meeting folk, and sort of a sad weekend- my last in Arkansas for a while. I won't be driving to NY until the 10th of March, but the next two weekends will be spent back in Texas visiting family and friends.
Today we went down to the H&R block and filed for our tax return. That's where we met Gladys. She was a considerably well-rounded lady, with a kind smile, and almost a sickeningly sweet demeanor. If she hadn't been so consistently nice, patient, and genuinely interested, it would have come across as quite staged- but by the time we were done, I was convinced that she is genuinely wonderful. We need more people like that.
Tonight a friend of mine arranged a "going away" party for us. It was really nice of him, and we had friends show up from different circles who'd never even met! We all gathered at a restaurant for Mexican food, and then migrated over to a small pub called Lucky's that I'd never been to before. It was a pretty clean little place, small, with one pool table. A live band was playing- and they were talented. The volume, however, seemed more suited for a place about 8 times the size of that room.
There was a guy in his mid-fifties, wearing a Razorback jacket, playing pool. He had graying hair, scruffy cheeks, a baggy 2nd chin, and apparently too much to drink. The only reason I know his name is because it was etched into his western-style leather belt. I can't count him as an official acquaintance since I never introduced myself- but didn't really care to. He was behaving in a way that hopefully would embarrass his children, if he has any- using his pool cue as an anatomical prop for immature antics.
The older I get, the more clear it becomes that some people never mature. I think I must have grown up assuming that everyone eventually becomes as mild-mannered, dignified and self controlled as my parents- I just assumed it was a natural process. Boy, was I wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment
What do you think?