From The Road...I came across him walking just outside the small town of White Springs located on the banks of the Suwannee River. Three young boys in a pickup were passing and jeering, "Move out of the way old opossum man".
I slowed to a stop and asked him if I could give him a lift. He looked me directly in the eyes and said "Well fellow, you do know that the direction your headed is a lot more important than how fast you get there." I just knew he would have a good sense of humor...you see I was headed in the opposite direction.
Sure enough, he had a opossum on a rope, sitting on his shoulder. He was carrying a brand new galvanized silver trash can. About a 50 gallon I would guess. The trash can went in the back and the ole man with the opossum crawled in the front next to me and we headed out to what he called "his refuge".
As he was trying to figure out how to fasten the seat belt, he leaned over and said, "When you are mean and angry, it means you got fear in you." I asked him if he was talking about those boys? "Yep," he said. "You know anger is what happens to you when you feel you have no control." Before I could respond he asked, "you got any control issues?"
He was a bright, witty and intelligent man. Educated himself and has read more Great Masters of art, literature and history than yours truly. He had on a clean pair of denim coveralls over a black t shirt and a pair of well worn brogans. The opossum never moved and never took his eyes from my eyes.
He asked me if I trusted people? "Enough that I have had my share of disappointments," I answered. He said, "That's good...you know people who do not trust, cannot be trusted." We talked about trust and how we put trust in our thoughts. I think he summed it up quiet well as he stroked the opossum, " You can't always trust what you think. Sometimes your mind just likes to put on a show."
We talked about his story, the loss of his family, and his general take on life as we approached the dirt road leading to his refuge. He said he did not see much need in talking about yesterday, cause yesterday he was a different man. He smiled and said, "I read that in Alice in Wonderland. Today I am looking for my new metanoia."
As we arrived, I could see it was indeed a refuge...but his refuge. I did not want to disturb his sacred space and bid him fare well just outside the car. He was appreciative and as he walked away I heard him say, "Remember Ego, the direction you are going is a lot more important than how fast you get there."
He turned around as I opened the car door and called out, "The opossum...well...he just needed a human." Tipped his hat and walked away with his opossum and his new galvanized trash can...
They say that one who is wise through reflection and experience is considered a Sage...
His name is Ian...
The Opossum's name is...Critter
Ego
I slowed to a stop and asked him if I could give him a lift. He looked me directly in the eyes and said "Well fellow, you do know that the direction your headed is a lot more important than how fast you get there." I just knew he would have a good sense of humor...you see I was headed in the opposite direction.
Sure enough, he had a opossum on a rope, sitting on his shoulder. He was carrying a brand new galvanized silver trash can. About a 50 gallon I would guess. The trash can went in the back and the ole man with the opossum crawled in the front next to me and we headed out to what he called "his refuge".
As he was trying to figure out how to fasten the seat belt, he leaned over and said, "When you are mean and angry, it means you got fear in you." I asked him if he was talking about those boys? "Yep," he said. "You know anger is what happens to you when you feel you have no control." Before I could respond he asked, "you got any control issues?"
He was a bright, witty and intelligent man. Educated himself and has read more Great Masters of art, literature and history than yours truly. He had on a clean pair of denim coveralls over a black t shirt and a pair of well worn brogans. The opossum never moved and never took his eyes from my eyes.
He asked me if I trusted people? "Enough that I have had my share of disappointments," I answered. He said, "That's good...you know people who do not trust, cannot be trusted." We talked about trust and how we put trust in our thoughts. I think he summed it up quiet well as he stroked the opossum, " You can't always trust what you think. Sometimes your mind just likes to put on a show."
We talked about his story, the loss of his family, and his general take on life as we approached the dirt road leading to his refuge. He said he did not see much need in talking about yesterday, cause yesterday he was a different man. He smiled and said, "I read that in Alice in Wonderland. Today I am looking for my new metanoia."
As we arrived, I could see it was indeed a refuge...but his refuge. I did not want to disturb his sacred space and bid him fare well just outside the car. He was appreciative and as he walked away I heard him say, "Remember Ego, the direction you are going is a lot more important than how fast you get there."
He turned around as I opened the car door and called out, "The opossum...well...he just needed a human." Tipped his hat and walked away with his opossum and his new galvanized trash can...
They say that one who is wise through reflection and experience is considered a Sage...
His name is Ian...
The Opossum's name is...Critter
Ego
Ego, you make me want to travel and meet people like Ian, and a few critters along the way too. Of course travelling with a dog would make me so happy, I'd have tears in my eyes. I can travel, but where I live they say no pets, but one day I might shit on their grass before I go. LMHO
ReplyDeleteInteresting... I've met my share of country sages. Oh, and my 'possum came up to visit me on my back porch last night. Funny, his name is also "Critter," but then I have lots of critters that come to visit me.
ReplyDelete