“This is such good medicine”
said the doctor
“Take
a handfull
in
the
morning
for the next seven days,
watch Wheel of Fortune
in the evening,
and
I will see
you
next week…”
“Remember,”
the good doctor continued
“you are
expected to
skip
as you
go
out the door,
waving
and
smiling.”
My friend
has
such a
foolish idea:
“Just have the surgeon
reconstruct
your face
into a colorful
permanent
smile,
and that’s that!”
Happiness is
so
illusive
nowadays.
But
there is
just
no
time
for
sorrow,
angst
or question,
and little patience
for those
who
are
not right.
Either you are
right,
or you are not!
On the outskirts
of town
is
a gathering of
misfits
each of whom
has his
or her
own
hammock.
Papa said
sternly
“Never
go near
any of them,
they’re
so
lost!”
But I
went
and
walked there.
The misfits –
One young boy
in
a hammock
was
playing guitar
while
lying on his back,
wistful
look
in
his
eyes.
Another,
an older woman,
sat in her
hammock
darning
and
humming
to herself.
They actually seemed
quite
productive
although
clearly
some are
troubled
by
something…
“We live day to day.
Some days
not so good.
We weep
at times.
We have great hope
but know
it is best
to temper
expectation…
We just live here
and
support each other.
Some
are not well,
and
we
do not forsake them.
Just know
we are
reaching
for the
sky
whenever
we can!”
Then
a hand
on my shoulder
startled me.
Turned
to see
just
who
it was,
but
was
not
a hand at all,
just
sunshine.
Sunshine
so bright
it made me squint!
When I got
back
to town
I put a
hammock
in my backyard.
There was quite a commotion!
“You’re not of them
now,
are you?
Son, son…
repent!”
I laid
in the hammock
that night
looking up
at the sky
and wondered
where I most belonged
until I fell
into an uneasy
sleep.
“So,
you’re back!”
the doctor
said
the
next morning.
“How have you been?”
“Well, sir, I did as you
said,
but
still feel
malaise
to be honest with you…”
Doctor laughed
laughed
and laughed
some
more.
“And you think that feeling
ever goes away?”
He laughed even harder
and
told me
there was nothing more he could do.
“Just fit in,
do not make waves,
now carry on,
we’ll see you in a year…”
I walked to the outskirts
of town
and
asked the misfits
if
I could
stay there.
“Everyone is welcome
dear.
Take my hand,
And
when you have a moment
look up
at
the
sky.”
Excellent Ron