So by now, you've all see pictures of my crappy commute.
Although I've been doing it for well over 20 years, I only recently started carrying a camera along to share what I see.But not all of the beauty is natural.
Almost every morning, I see a large black man, struggling along the Ballona Creek Bike Path on what appears to be a painfully injured leg. He limps along, obviously in significant pain, struggling to make every step. But he is out there almost every day, and every day he's giving it all he can. One day, he had stopped to look at the Marina, and I stopped to chat. I mean ... hell ... I see him almost every morning. We ought to know each others' names. His name is Simms. I never asked him how he injured his leg, but I intend to some day. My suspicion is that he is a professional football player ... a suspicion bolstered by the fact that I saw him getting into a 80s vintage Rolls one morning.
Or the two guys (regrettably, I've never asked their names) who walk together most mornings along the beach. Two middle aged friends, no doubt sharing stories every day as they walk together down the road. I finally had a short chat with them, and told them how cool it was to see friends spend a little time every day together.
Then there is the God Bless You Lady. An older asian woman, who can be seen every day walking along the Ballona Creek Bike Path. She made it a point to say "God bless you!" to every single person that passed her. She said it loud enough and insistent enough for anyone to hear, and in a way that she desperately wanted people to bless her in return. Of course, everyone pretty much ignores her. But she doesn't give up. Time, and time again, no matter what, as you pass, she would announce "God Bless You!" whether you answered her or not. And just like Andy Dufresne of the "Shawshank Redemption" writing letters to the prison board to pester himself into a library, she kept it up, day after day. And just like Andy Dufresne, she outlasted everyone. Now, pretty much everyone says "God bless you" to the God Bless You Lady.
Last week, a colleague announced:
"I pulled a Biker395 today."
Ooo ... I thought ... that could be good or bad.
"What's that?"
"I talked to the God Bless You Lady. She's really nice. Her name is Tessie."
Yea, I am known around the office for talking to strangers. Why the hell not? That's how strangers turn into friends. But it left me wondering ... so why haven't I said hello to Tessie?
Well, I did just that today. I introduced myself and said hi.
She seemed more interested in my son Evan.
"Is this your son?"
"Yes, his name is Evan."
She addressed him directly."Are you going to school?"
He assured her that he was.
"Your father is working hard at his job to send you to school. Your job in school is to study hard and do the best you can."
Right then and there, I decided I really liked Tessie.
Evan and I had to go, but I couldn't leave without asking her if I could take her picture. She seemed flattered. I was grateful. And here is Tessie ... otherwise known as the God Bless You Lady:
Nice commute today, and even nicer to do the commute with Evan. The bummer is that he's going back to school soon and I'll be doing the commute alone again. I'm going to miss him ... even when he does stuff like this:
