Okay, so I am walking around taking care of personal errands downtown (small Southern town). Trying to be a good citizen of Mother Earth, I had parked in a central location and set out on foot. Alright, already, I am also benefitting my own health and staying off medical claims rolls. Anyway, after leaving the fourth establishment, with several logoed shopping bags by now, I am approached by a relatively young gentleman who inquires” Excuse me, ma’am, are you trying to get back to your group home?” Practicing my best p.r. skills, I calmly asked him if he minded my asking him why he asked. The reply? “Because you were walking and you have white hair.”
Now, folks, I am still celebrating “burning the mortgage” on my home four months ago. The comfort and self-confidence I gained from this allowed me to say,”Sir, I appreciate your concern but I own my home outright; and I walk both for my health and to conserve more of the earth’s resources, not to mention contributing a little less to air pollution.” People, what I have not revealed so far is that THIS small southern town is the ONLY one where I have ever parked, walked to complete errands, and was viewed as doing nothing especially noteworthy.
Please understand I truly appreciate the beam of light the above incident shed into the darker craters of my fellow citizen’s hearts and minds. Some tentative conclusions:
1) The need of most to barricade themselves behind auto bodies and hair color?
2) The wearing of “conservative” blinders about the ecology?
3) The assumptions about how, when, and where people of “our kind” exercise?
Stay tuned for more thinking and related incidents in the life of this white-haired walker.
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granbee 