Consider the man on the sidewalk. Considering you don’t know him, what’s a short list of questions you might ask this stranger?
Did “Excuse me sir, can I take a picture of your belt buckle?” make your list?
(consider the expression of his son, standing off camera. I can assure you it communicated wonder and disbelief with a tablespoon of pride).
You can learn and earn a lot of things at family reunions.
When you attend the reunion on my father’s side they IMMEDIATELY add to the excitement of just being there by having you guess how many pennies are in a jar sitting next to the sign-in ledger. Like a lot of jars, this one is made of glass. This allows you to see inside, making it easier to estimate how many lincolns there may be. Estimating how many things are in a thing is something I’m good at. I wrote down my guess, only after bombastically predicting victory. Then I went and I ate things and learned things. A lot of things. They were all delicious. The most savory tidbit I enjoyed was learning that ridin’ the rusty rails, trainhoppin’, is an urge flowing in the blood line. My cousin, Christine Marie, was a trainhopper well before I was. She would leap onto the steam trains that passed behind her house. She claims she’s a retired hopper, something I refuse outright. Check back later for photos of us hopping trains…together.
The time to earn was upon me. The number of pennies in the jar was announced and the person, Price is Right rules in effect, coming closest without going over was me. But really, my aunt Helen won. Sure, she was over but she was closest. Besides, Bob Barker just retired so Price rules need not apply. My aunt would tell me later that she had sudden surge of energy while I was guessing and channeled thoughts of me winning into the air. “I hope he wins. I hope he wins.”, she chanted in her head. Clearly, she’s gifted…and kind. I insisted she consider going out on the road with me where we would offer our professional estimating services to those in need.
I’m still waiting to hear from her. I estimate it won’t be long.