The man in the window stood on his patio waiting for me. His face lit up with a broad smile when my car came to a stop by his gate. He hurried down the steps. “Good morning, good morning,” I said.
“I finally get a good look at you,” he said as he bent his head to look through the window. “My day is now complete. I’m telling you, it is now complete.”
“It is now complete,” I responded with a chuckle.
“Don’t think I’m getting fresh; when I see you I get freaky deaky ideas.”
“Oh my gosh, not good, that’s not good.”
He looked at me and said, “Why is it not good? Why can’t I have my ideas? It’s only an idea. It is only an idea. I mean, I mean, I wish my dreams come true, but you’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re beautiful. How is life treating you?”
“Alright so far.”
“Okay, you’re doing alright. You’ve got youth on your side. You’ve got beauty on your side. You’ve got the whole package on your side.”
“Well, thank God for that.”
“Hello! Hello!” he exclaimed.
He looked at me with intent, “Beautiful, beautiful lady. The problem I have with you is that you don’t belong to me.” With that said, he burst into singing. “I mean the one I love belongs to somebody else. She keeps her tender kisses for somebody else. I can’t sing, but I’ll give it a try,” he laughed.
“Was that a Frank Sinatra’s song?” I asked.
“Hello!” He said and continued with his song. “You can bet that even when I hold her and put my arms around her. I know she belongs to somebody else. I’ll bet they’re not so cold to somebody else. It is tough to be alone on a shelf; it’s worse to fall in love by yourself. When the one I love belongs to somebody else.” His voice cracked on the last note, and he took a deep breath as he filled his lungs with much-needed air.
“One of these days when I get some time, I am going to get you a Frank Sinatra CD when I get downtown. These songs are old, but I love them. I love those types of music. All of this fast stuff ain’t for me. I like a SONG! That’s why I like old movies too. Like Betty Davis movies, they are treachery. In one of her movies, she ran off with her sister’s husband.”
We both laughed out loud at the statement.
“I like all of them. The movies where somebody has done somebody wrong movies. You know, I mean, it ain’t a whole bunch of guns and things, or chipmunks chasing each other, and all those bulls**t movies. I like movies that tell real stories. I also love those love triangle movies. You know what I’m saying.”
“Yes, I understand,” I checked my rearview mirror as a car approached.
“I remember first meeting you when I used to walk my dog,” he said as I followed his gaze to the man across the street sweeping the sidewalk in front of the apartment building.
“Yes, I remember too. My car was in the shop.”
“Over the years we have developed a talk and friendship. I mean, I wish it was a closer friendship.” He laughed. “I mean, I’m only being fresh. But you know something, I’m actually speaking, you won’t have a better friend in me. If you take everything too seriously, you’ll ruin the joys of life. Although you have to be mindful of people and err on the side of caution, you also have to give people the opportunity to talk to you. I am glad you gave me the opportunity to take to this old man. You make my day brighter whenever I see you. Thank you for your friendship, and with that said let me let you go to work.”
“It is always a pleasure talking to you as well. Take care of yourself and enjoy the day.”
He tapped the door, “Be safe! God bless you!” And he stepped to the sidewalk, smiled and waved. He looked happy
“God bless you,” I echoed and put the car into drive. I honked my car horn and drove away.
I remembered so vividly my first encounter with the man in the window. All I said to him that day was, “good morning.” We never know why someone comes into our life. As people go through life’s journey, they will meet others along their path placed there by the creator. A person comes into your life to teach you something or for you to teach him/her something. However, in the exchange, there is value in the encounter for both parties.
Be of good cheer, and enjoy your day.
Okay, I said it!