A day in my life

I love the adventure my life presents to me each day. Dozens of people pass in and out of our busy office, some of them wonderful, some irritating or pedantic or downright unlikeable. But we all have one thing in common - we are different. I sit with a farmer and his wife. Quiet and well-mannered, they've been together so long they resemble each other, like an old devoted dog and his mistress. Their life has been hard and has left them with disappointed mouths and gnarly hands and she wears ugly, convoluted silver rings to disguise her arthritic fingers. They grip hands and she smiles resignedly at me. No, no, they can't give themselves permission to have a splendid vacation once in a while - but thank you. That's not what life is about for them. They leave, feet shuffling, backs bent a little more. Life is difficult. Next I meet with a single man, subdued and anxious. He is blind in one eye and his cheeks are mottled with clotted blue veins. He nervously wipes his nose with the scruff of his sweater which is smeared with dabs of miscellaneous white paint and something else - mucus, perhaps? He now lives in his little RV which he parks at the far end of the WalMart parking area. He just lost his job and his wife. Very sad. Then there's the mom and dad and two teenagers who walk into the room and head straight for the food counter. The boy seems to be starving and piles his paper plate high with bagels and cream cheese. He shoves a piece of cheesy bagel into his mouth as he walks towards my table. His cheeks bulge as he sits down and I fear the bagel is trying to escape. He struggles to rearrange his tongue to better accommodate the pulpy mess of dough and cheese. He seems to think if he keeps his mouth open and jiggles his tongue from side to side that the bagel will remain within the grip of his iron jaws. Repulsed yet fascinated, I watch. It's as though I'm watching an animal in the throes of death - a small, white animal struggling against its assailant. Finally, the fight is over and the animal's life blood of cream cheese trickles down the victor's chin. Mom and dad watch indulgently, proud of their son who will one day save the world. Still smiling, dad pulls out his wallet and hands me his credit card. "This will be perfect for our family," he says, satisfied that their future vacations are assured in the manner and style to which he wants his family to be accustomed to. Later on I meet Christopher, who tells me he's a consultant for a raw foods company and his job takes him all around the country. Timeshare would suit his lifestyle of work and meditation, and he will buy it if the price is right. Hmm, that sounds too easy so I question him a little more, and he assures me, hand over heart, that he makes enough money to afford this. I ask him how much he makes. He squeezes his blue eyes shut for a moment then gives me the magic number I need to qualify him as a legitimate candidate. Christopher is relaxed at all times, body totally still, eyes focused. I wonder what they put into those organic brussels sprouts he sells. Perhaps I could grow to love them! His calmness deepens as I show him that he can travel for about 1/60th of the amount that he assures me he spends right now. Do I detect some uneasiness? A tic in his cheek? "I can't do this today, Josee, I don't make as much money as I told you. But someday soon I will, and I'll come back and see you, I promise" Too bad, I think, because I liked this young man and I feel disappointed in him. I tell him so and he turns a little nasty. Nothing I can't handle, of course, but I'm irked to be told by a liar that I'm losing my professionalism and my dignity. I assure him my p&d are intact, but I'm still disappointed in him - he lacks integrity .. . also, he sold himself so cheaply- a free jeep ride. Ah, well, my day is done. Now I'll go home and relax, get ready for tomorrow. Again, I learn that everyone has been given a different journey to complete, a different train to catch, a different station to alight from. And that's okay. Life's a trip - make of it what you will.