Yesterday, after finishing my acrobatics training earlier than usual, because I was so darn hungry I headed to my favorite bakery not more than a few blocks away.
I arrive there and I see my friend and her boyfriend sitting there. Chit chat with them, until they take off.
I order my Pizza and it's still not ready, so I head back outside, because it's been pretty darn nice where I live recently.
A bench spot is open, but there's a fellow in his 70's sitting there, well dressed in a black suit, white hair, glasses, and an opened up collared shirt.
He was really sitting there and observing.
I politely ask, "Mind if I take a seat?".
"Not at all", was his reply.
I unload my backpack and sit. After a little bit of time I look over a the words, "How long have you been living here for?", come out of my mouth.
The conversation started.
Hold on...
It's worth telling everyone how my state of mind was before chatting with Mr. Richard.
I've been doing push-ups regularly, re-reading things here, and dealing with things as they come.
Also, school has really turned up the heat this year and it's been difficult to find some breathing time for myself.
On top of that work has been consistent every week.
So...I wasn't very grounded and alive to put it nicely. The world looked a bit dark and gloomy in my eyes at that time.
The conversation...
We talked about our generation gap. I let him know I was born in 1990 and he reciprocated and told me he was born in 1942 before the War. Holy crap!
We chatted about life back then and life now. I was the curious one, asking questions and listening. It's interesting to listen to a person who's seen so much compared to my 23 years. He's seen things changed, the internet be born, people pass away, wars happen, and so on. I was truly the lucky one listening to it all.
I told him of my view(s) of technology. I believe that technology has made the masses more susebtible to become lazy.
Put aside the huge advancements of social media and connection between different parts of the world.
I agree with that though, technology in that regard has been SUPERBLY beneficial to almost everyone and our species.
He joked with me about how lucky I was to have "save" buttons on the computer.
How I can make multiple copies of papers.
How I can surf the web for information.
He then told me how he had to retype his (the word started with a "D", but I can't remember, sounded like an important college/business document) many times, because there was no copier machine back in his time. It was that or carbon copies he said.
I was into this conversation A LOT!
"TheDude, your pizza is ready!"
I disregarded that announcement and continued our conversation.
At this time I felt a part of me holding onto Mr. Richard as a way of "helping me better myself".
I was holding onto him, or the idea of him.
I noticed it and dealt with it.
I ventured our conversation to a more spiritual direction, because I felt he was on that path.
This is where it got interesting!
I asked him about his early years and life back then.
He brought up the 60's and that time.
Naturally I asked about the substances back then, and he causally said, "Oh yeah, I did a lot of LSD back then".
Our conversation progressed more on that topic, but not about getting loaded, but more of what it showed him.
Religion and God came up. He said:
"That's the problem, people need to stop believing in something up there or anywhere, and start believing in themselves and asking from themselves."
Sounds like this place w/o the talk of God though.
I took that in.
My clustered head was beginning to feel more spacious.
We chatted about humans being the only animal to do harm to this world. He mentioned he no longer looks at animals as animals, but as more people. I understand why...we separate ourselves with labels, but we all really come from the same place, this ground and place Earth.
I then brought up how I found it a bit difficult to find genuine connections with people my age. He didn't agree, but was listening.
"TheDude, your pizza is ready!". I went and grabbed it and came back to the bench.
Typing this now I realize I was projecting a bit about not finding a genuine connection.
It's only hard to make connections, because I'm making it hard.
It's been mentioned many times here by the WISE.
There is NO spoon.
To compliment the above, we talked about how we are sitting here talking, and we look outside and there's people walking around everywhere. Inside their heads there is a whole different world with problems and worries and other things.
He said to that, "Yeah, makes you wonder if there's really any problems."
I chuckled at this, but it was a nervous chuckle, because inside I knew it was the truth.
How crazy is it the things we put ourselves through??
If only we took some time to be aware of why we do what we do.
I let him know bits and pieces of my journey.
From what I said I'm sure he could sense my struggle vibrating out.
I talked about seeking the truth and he asked:
"Why, do you dilute yourself?"
I do. I do, because I'm not hardy enough at times to face the truth, but I'm not one to back down and quit.
Our conversation came to an end, as both of us had other places to be.
He turned to me and said, "TheDude you brightened up my day, thank you.". That surprised me, because he was the one who brightened up my day.
We parted ways, but exchanged numbers to meet again at the bakery for some grub another time.
What a day that was!