10/09/19

A WHATEVER KIND OF GUY 

            One day, visiting my grandchildren at their house in the countryside, I started messing around with some small stones on one of the many stone walls on the property – just seeing what structure I could create in a few minutes. I had no design in mind, only the desire to do something spontaneous and set the stones wherever my hands wished them to be. If someone had asked me what I was building, I might have said “whatever my hands wish” – or maybe, like so many young people today, just “whatever”, perhaps with a suitable shrug. However, there would be no spirit of indifference or exasperation in my “whatever”, as there often seems to be when I hear the word spoken. If I said “whatever”, it would be because whatever I build with those small stones would be something special to me. I guess, in a way, I’m a whatever kind of guy. Whatever a day brings, I try to see what it has that can help me. I know that whatever happens a minute from now is the truth for that moment, and whatever thought I have at any moment helps me, somehow, be exactly who I’m supposed to be. It’s a good word for me. I’m more likely to smile than shrug when I say “whatever”.     

We had a wonderful stay in the Northampton area, from last Friday to Tuesday: relaxing in a cozy hillside cottage; watching Louie play a super game of soccer and visiting with Annie, Gabe, and Jan; taking walks on the rail trail; eating at simple but splendid cafes; and spending three light-hearted days with Aaron. We hope to repeat this little holiday often!