Different Perspectives
Everyday on my way out of my neighborhood for work, I pass the same old man. He shuffles down the same sidewalk, always smoking a cigar. I always smile kindly at him, sometimes I wave. But he doesn’t really pay much attention. I’ve made up this story in my head that this old man has high blood pressure and his doctor tells him he needs to get out and walk. So, every morning his wife makes him leave the warmth of his house and walk around the block and in protest, he smokes a cigar the entire time.
These are the stories I make up to get through my day.
One day last week, Chris and I were driving out of the neighborhood together and we passed my old friend walking, cigar in his mouth.
“I see that old man every day,” I told Chris.
“Oh yeah? Me too. I see him as I come home in the afternoons.”
“How funny,” I replied. “I see him every morning when I leave for work. I think he’s cute.”
“Who?” Chris asks. “That old drunk?”
“What are you talking about? How do you know he’s a drunk? That’s sort of presumptuous of you,” I say.
“No its not. Its the truth. I see him every day when I come home from work and he’s always going into the liquor store. Like every day. Watch the next time you’re home. He’ll walk down the street and out of the neighborhood and then about 15 minutes later he’ll come walking back through with a brown bag.”
I was highly skeptical. In my mind, my old friend was battling high blood pressure and his wife. In my mind, he had four grandchildren and he gave them peppermint sticks when they came to visit him. He smoked Cubans that some war buddy brought him for Christmas last year. He smelled like baby powder and tobacco.
He certainly didn’t hang out in liquor stores.
But, sure enough, this past week when I was home from work, I see him walk down our street and out of our neighborhood and about 15 minutes later he comes walking back in the other direction. And in his hand is a brown paper bag. The kind you get from a liquor store.
I’ve decided to alter my made-up story about my old friend. Now, I pretend he walks to the liquor store every day because his doctor told him to drink more red wine for his blood pressure.
There. That’s much better.
7 Comments
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
I like to make up stories too and you are MUCH better at it than Chris. It’s way too easy to make a jump to “old drunk”.
I got a fwd last night on all the uses for vodka. Maybe he has stinky feet or a moldy shower or is using it to kill a bees’ nest.
Laura
I’m with Chris on this one. I always assume the worst. oops.
Hilary
Oh, c’mon, Katie!! You’ve been handed a gem! You thought this guy had high blood pressure, but now you find out he makes daily trips to the drug store. I would go with ex-CIA agent who’s “seen too much” and now he has to drown out the memories with scotch and bourbon. Sort of like Jack Bauer in 30 years . . .
Ashley
Haha I LOVE IT! I do the same things that you do!! TOO FUNNY 🙂
Candice
I love it! This is exactly the same sort of thing I do, too. I love to look at airplanes and imagine who’s on them and why and where they’re going, too.
Emily
This is just too funny! Sounds like something my husband and I would do. When we are at the airport or busy places we always make up stories about people we see.
Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com
I make up those stories too =) Mostly for old men, too, lol. My husband makes fun of me for having such a soft spot for old men – I’ll basically excuse an old man for any behavior under the sun – but I tell him he should be thankful.
After all, he’ll be an old man one day. And when he does something stupid, at least one person will make up a story to make it seem better than it is =P