Well,,,, I am happy to tell you I have been "pocketed". I know this makes no sense to you but here in Slocala where the tooth ratio's are low and the mullet count high and our official bird is the "snowbird", we are easily amused. There is a man at our local Walmart (gasp) that has been doing something for 4 years (or that's how the story goes).
I had never seen him but heard tale of him through the underground Slocala messenger system (my kids, they know everything). He is a bit like Ashton Kutcher and it is a bit like being "PUNK'D" when you are "chosen".
He is a wonderfully older man, a little bit eccentric in looks with eyes that tell the story of sailors romancing mermaids and living through pounding battles with the sea. He smells of cigars and newspapers and smiles as he acknowledges each passer by, passer-by-ing him. You know he is some one's father and grandfather. There are people that think he is a sage and some would deem him a hero but most would think he was "off".
Some people just have the air of greatness hidden by an appearance of what the world deems as insanity. I do not look at people in that way. I see through the eyes and the lines around them. I draw jealousy in those with deep cut smile lines because they have experienced much joy in life. I am working on my smile lines each day and I'll be damned if I'll ever Botox them.
But,,,, back to the story, it is a simple one as you will see, this grand verbal build-up I have penned may make you shake your head, but it is how I see it.
This is how the stint goes. He chooses you, he walks up to you, he sincerely looks at you with knowing eyes that beg to be trusted and says softly:
"excuse me ma'am, you dropped your pocket".
You look for your "pocket" (I exaggerated my search for him to feed upon) while he laughs that old man chuckle and explains:
"you can't DROP a pocket ma'am,, I'm sorry I just had to try and make you smile today, God Bless You!!!" and cringes for the reaction.
This is silly, really it is, and the normal busy mom would probably show exhaustion and frustration that he dared confiscate some of her precious time. But what if more people just enjoyed the little things like him? I mean he hasn't changed his shtick in 4 years! He obviously enjoys making people smile and reaps the benefits with his own.
The kids call him the "Legendary Pocket Dude" and hold up both hands showing the "rock on" gesture as they speak of him. I am sure there are people that go off on him everyday. But not me, I just wanted to hug him, and I did, and as I did I missed my dad, because he certainly would do something like this. And I thought of all the stories this man could sit and tell me and my kids, and I wished I could steal him and learn from him, and I wished more people WERE like him and more WOULD take the time to learn from him!
Rock on Legendary Walmart Pocket Dude,, Rock on!!!!!!!!!!
And thank you for choosing me!
Please enjoy this commercial......Hells yea!!!!!!
I wanna live in that "retirement" community!!!
