digitS'
Garden Master
Dumped the old lawnmower with the blown engine, yesterday. Had some junk and fluorescent tubes. But, my arrival time was bad. The tractor was on the floor and there was a lot of trash to push outta the way.
After about 10 minutes, I walked around trying to find the attendant - the tractor had momentarily stopped. Returning to the pickup, first in line, I decided to advise the next guy. I had to do some thinking after that.
I had never met this fellow before and his response was just a little joke about not having the power to change things. I laughed and he must have been encouraged by that because he told me another joke ... although, he started out quite seriously by saying it wasn't a joke.
But, it was a joke. There must be definitions of what jokes are and are not. It involved an event that hasn't happen and a result which would be illogical, 97% of the population would say "impossible". It involved refugees and it wasn't funny. He was right about that if it was what he meant by no joke. I was left wondering why he would be so quick to share it.
Moments later, something that had happened over 30 years ago came to mind. I hadn't thought of it for years.
On one of several returns to school, I realized how important the library and librarians were to me. I went into the office and asked if they would like me to set up one of their displays. I had worked awhile in a museum and had some personal artifacts that I was willing to put out for public viewing.
After everything was out there, a guy seemed to take offense. He said it wasn't what I said it was. I asked what could it be other than what I was trying to show, a representation of Southeast Asian highland farming. He said nothing but just turned and walked away.
I realized that he probably showed signs of what some now call post traumatic stress. I am too unprofessional to give a diagnosis on some joker who walks up to me like that. And yet, my immediate reaction was a question which turned him right around and he drifted off. I wonder now if all the stress was just engendered while staying at home, in Idaho. Or, if some experience beyond borders would have made his reaction more legitimate.
Fear. I see it so often. Some try to legitimize their fear by finding others who share it, I suppose.
Steve
After about 10 minutes, I walked around trying to find the attendant - the tractor had momentarily stopped. Returning to the pickup, first in line, I decided to advise the next guy. I had to do some thinking after that.
I had never met this fellow before and his response was just a little joke about not having the power to change things. I laughed and he must have been encouraged by that because he told me another joke ... although, he started out quite seriously by saying it wasn't a joke.
But, it was a joke. There must be definitions of what jokes are and are not. It involved an event that hasn't happen and a result which would be illogical, 97% of the population would say "impossible". It involved refugees and it wasn't funny. He was right about that if it was what he meant by no joke. I was left wondering why he would be so quick to share it.
Moments later, something that had happened over 30 years ago came to mind. I hadn't thought of it for years.
On one of several returns to school, I realized how important the library and librarians were to me. I went into the office and asked if they would like me to set up one of their displays. I had worked awhile in a museum and had some personal artifacts that I was willing to put out for public viewing.
After everything was out there, a guy seemed to take offense. He said it wasn't what I said it was. I asked what could it be other than what I was trying to show, a representation of Southeast Asian highland farming. He said nothing but just turned and walked away.
I realized that he probably showed signs of what some now call post traumatic stress. I am too unprofessional to give a diagnosis on some joker who walks up to me like that. And yet, my immediate reaction was a question which turned him right around and he drifted off. I wonder now if all the stress was just engendered while staying at home, in Idaho. Or, if some experience beyond borders would have made his reaction more legitimate.
Fear. I see it so often. Some try to legitimize their fear by finding others who share it, I suppose.
Steve
