About one year ago, I had a severe case of bronchial asthma. Early in the morning, I walked to the 7/11 on C Street to buy a cold mocha. It was the end of the month and my pockets felt bare. A young man slept next to a big dumpster in back of the Y hotel. I found four bills a few feet from him.
I picked them up, looked around and bought a Mocha at the 7/11. I sat down to look at my find. One hundred, two and three bills made it three hundred. A one and ten made it eleven. Wow! God was looking over me.
God had provided me with three hundred and eleven dollars. I felt better and since it was the end of the month I felt like an Old Town treat: A chocolate ice cream cone. After a short trolley ride, I walked to the patio across from the Catholic Immaculate Church and tour trolleys. I bought the usual sugar rainbow cone and sat at a round table.
Soon a tired middle aged couple joined my table. The thin one told his mate they didn't have quite enough for an ice cream. Since she was out of breath on this hot day, they looked devastated. That is when I first met Ruthy and John. They had come for a religious convention and were on their way to the airport. They didn't have anymore cash.
Pardon me, but may I offer you a five for the cup of ice cream.
The man replied, "Are you sure...My wife is hot and an ice cream can mean a lot for her."
No problem.
So as not to bore you, I have had a long e-mail relationship with Brother John and Sister Ruth. He is a pastor and she a nurse, both retired. He summoned me by e-mail a month ago. He wished to return my sweetness with a lunch at the Greek Café in Seaport Village. Next to the Greek were seafood, Italian and good old American cuisine.
Now for me it mean a free meal and a chance to leave loneliness at home. We were to meet at 2:o'clock in the afternoon. They had to attend a Evangelist conference first. It was a fifteen minute quick-walk from my hotel to the Harbor and Pacific Highway. Ruth saw me with my long umbrella and waved.
It was an agreeably hot day without a cloud in the deep blue sky. In the distance was an aircraft carrier and by the shore were sail boats taking advantage of a north-westerly breeze. It seemed all of the tourists had come to this part of the Harbor. Everywhere there was beer, food and smiles. And what would it be without the seagulls, and pigeons? .
It felt good the couple from Jonestown remembered me. We ordered the combination plate with Greek rolls and fig leaves. My stomach felt happy. My state check had not arrived and was lost so I had to unbuckle up my stomach. We gorged ourselves on slices of meat, and various vegetables. I felt connected with my new friends.
Brother John had to check his ten o'clock flight, and afterwards, she wished to buy some scented vinegar for her salads. She could only amble ten steps at a time since she had recently undergone a major mastectomy. Yet she needed to find the Seaport vinegar store...and we found it across from Ben an Jerry's.
I reminded them about my favorite fish restaurant next to the Harbor. That fish restaurant had a perfect view of the Harbor. Too bad Ruth can't walk far since a tour of the aircraft carrier Midway is well worth it. In fact, you can see hundreds of Asians taking pictures of the nurse kissing the sailor after the war. The Japanese forgot they lost the war-at least for the moment. There is also Bob Hope spreading his humor with jokes among the Marines.
We found the scented vinegar store and she bought various fruit flavored bottles. They would be sent to their address in Pennsylvania.They charged it and would also ship it to their Pennsylvania address the eight bottles of scented joy.
I warned them with the heat she could have a stroke. After we stopped at the Hyatt Manchester they decided not to take the Green Line and instead ordered a taxi ride to their hotel. for a drink, they ordered a $20 taxi ride to Hotel Circle and the Town and County. I went with them on the taxi ride. Their leader is building hotel that will showcase the old and new testament. They had already paid $25,000 to join the group.
We embraced and Brother John gave me ten dollars. I walked towards the Green Line Trolley holding a book and left-over food. I never slept so soundly.
The next day reality waved good-by to fantasy land, and hello to reality. My State Teachers retirement check never arrived. I only had fourteen dollars on me and left to the Post Office on Roosevelt to see if the color yellow arrived in box 1241. No such luck. A supervisor walked up and down the line.
"My check is ten days late. It has never been this late!...I could have died!"
"Let me go to the back and check."
She returned holding my yellow small envelope. "We put it inside another's box. We are very sorry."
Wall Mart cashed it in Oceanside and I went to my dentist to buy an appliance for my teethe. What a way for the day to end. In three weeks I will be able to smile.
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