The holidays do weird things to people. Some tend towards the big red sweaters laden with jingle bells and holly. Some like to grab that last wii from the outstretched hand of a completely exhausted grandmother. And some people just try to wait it out in a induced coma.
I for one usually embrace the holidays. This past year was an exception, however. I have watched a lot of depressing situations evolve over the last month or two, friends losing jobs, friends losing homes, loss of life, economic downfall, etc. It was getting to me. That is until yesterday.
I sold some cufflinks that I bought and flipped on ebay, and I was headed to the bank for my christmas deposit. Its only a few blocks to the bank, so I decided to take the fairly scenic walk up Pine to Ocean. At the corner of those streets, I saw a bum hobbling up to a guy in a Mercedes. Now, I should preface this with the fact that I LOVE to watch human interaction like this. This is a clash of social strata that is rarely equaled. The end of the road hobo trying to connect with the abundantly wealthy and socially eliete, well in their world at least.
So, back to the clash. Said hobo, we’ll call him Alvin just so he has an identity - side note, isnt it funny how the mental image of him changed in your head when he went from ‘hobo’ to ‘alvin’? yeah, you got jedi mind fucked and didnt even know it… So, Alvin approaches Reginald (made that up too, but it sounds elietist right?) as he is headed to the parking meter and asks, “Hey man! You got an extra smoke I can get?”
Now Im hoping to all hell that the guy just loses his shit and runs from the hobo. Seen it before, and its funny as hell. But much to my chagrin, he says, “what the hell, yeah”. So he returns to his car for said smoke.
The bum reaches into his pocket as Reggie pops open the car door, spins to face the meter, drops in a few coins and yells, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!” and hauls ass up the street, sans the cigarette that started the whole thing.
I just stood there. For a second I thought, that guy is nuts. Then a thought creeped into my brain like that nagging feeling that you left your stove on. That guy isn’t nuts, he’s in the christmas spirit! He is so happy (for whatever reason) that its christmas, that he cant keep it to himself. He has to share it. So be paid for some rich mans .50 parking fee.
Since whitnessing this, I’ve been in a phenominal mood. I hope this story makes you appreciate your lot in life as well.
Merry Christmas Everybody.
