Today I went to town and sat at a terrace table with a coffee and an open mind. I thought it would be fun to sit there and “watch”, watch people, and watch life going on with a “Vacant” and open mind and see what “pops into it”. It probably hasn’t escaped the notice of some that I have been erm, “preoccupied” recently. Those who know why, well, they know why, and those who don’t, well, no need to. Suffice to say, “I have not been entirely myself” so, what of this morning? I sat with my coffee and faced the bar. I saw people all going about their business, the builders “building” the delivery men “delivering” Holidaymakers “holidaymaking” The old Spanish men coming for a “copa” and saying the same things they always do. It was a “groundhog day” just like every other day.
A couple of Americans who live here wandered up to the bar and took their place at an old Sherry barrel they talked for a few minutes and then an old Spanish lady came down the road and they smiled and said “Hola” and then they kissed her on both cheeks. You may think “so what”! Well, it isn’t “that” common for the “extranjeros” to have that degree of contact with the locals, it isn’t that rare either here in Gaucin but nevertheless, it was a nice thing to see. For me it was; “the moment”, I just stopped in time and saw the moment they saw each other, and the big smile, the open arms and the greeting. I was suddenly filled with a calm feeling, and I thought, and wrote, this:
“Take away everything but, “The moment”, all that was before, and all that is yet to come. The “greeting”, the smile the kiss hello, says all we need to know. Hold the moment and it will be with you all the time”
There is nothing profound in that I know, but there was more to it. More than “I” understand yet and I am not going to “analyse it” either. I was just thinking how good it would be if that “sentiment” was “everywhere”! It didn’t matter who you were, a rich American retiree or a little old Lady struggling with your shopping bags, there was definitely a pleasure at that encounter that transcended any status gender age.
And while this was happening there was an English couple in their early sixties dressed in the attire of the successful, he in White shorts and pink Ralph Lauren polo shirt, she in a short white lacy dress that might have been better suited to a 20 year old and they were talking quite loudly in surrey accents about this business deal and how it cost 6000 pounds just for something or other, and that struck me as, well “plastic”! There was this lovely honest ego-less encounter across the road and right next to me a “self” filled display of vacuous nonsense. Now I shouldn’t “Judge” I know, but it seemed to represent the current battle going on in the world between those who are trying to amass wealth and status and those who just want to enjoy life and people. I should say here that “I didn’t THINK about any of this” it was just a “feeling”. I opened myself to atmosphere and that is what I “felt”.
I just wish we could “ALL” put whatever “conditioning” we have behind us and recognise the “common bond” we have.
