When I Die…

I hope my friends and family say kind things about me. Going through old posts and just reviewing life in general, I’ve realized (and sometimes known) that things tend to be “about me” a lot. When I used to see a therapist, I mentioned this narcissism and she didn’t totally buy into it. No matter…I’m still convinced. I don’t necessarily think that it always has to be about me…I like to think/hope that I have a big heart and am generous and thoughtful of other people – more so than myself. That may not always be the case realistically. I will say this (in my defense..not that anyone is attacking me): I tend to blog about my thoughts, my feelings and my actions because it is my blog. I like to discuss and analyze people and their actions and how they affect me. There are more layers to me and more in-depth things I like to discuss, albeit usually in person.

That being said, here are my latest observations:

I went to town this morning for a few job interviews (town = D.C.). I arrived at my second one quite early, so I ordered a Coke at a local watering hole near the interviewing office. Having only been in this part of town a few times thus far, I wasn’t familiar with the establishment. (man, I’m starting to sound like Dawson’s Creek kids). In other words, I found a place that was barely occupied, bellied up to the bar and ordered a tall cold one. It was a local, “neighborhood” place where everyone knew each other, people came by every day to visit (mostly older men I found out) and it had been around for years. The three gentlemen in the bar with me were very pleasant and more than happy to answer my questions about the area. I’ve heard it said before and now have found it to be true: It’s very rare to find a born and bred Washingtonian. Most are transplants from other areas. These guys had lived in the area their entire lives. They told me that the bar, “L’il Pub,” had been around when they were children – it was called “Little Tavern” back then. The office buildings down the street used to be movie “houses” that you could get into for a QUARTER!

They didn’t mind me overhearing the conversations they had amongst themselves either. And they were more than kind to explain particulars of people or places they were talking about if they caught me listening/paying attention. When they thought I was reading my paper they spoke of a friend of theirs – Joe – who had recently passed. The questions started: Did any of the others know exactly what happened? When was the last time one of them had talked to him? Had he been sick? After the questions, came the remarks. “He was such a nice guy.” “He never let anyone talk about his friends (negatively).” “He was a prodigy as a child. A very talented painter his whole life. His works are overseas all over the place.”

Before, during, and after the discussion about Joe, one of the gentleman kept passing around a card for ‘Nancy’. She was going into the hospital for surgery and would everyone like to sign the card? People who stopped in to say hi to the bartender/owner, Howard, and the resident token photographer, Michael, were asked to sign this card for Nancy.

People like this group of older men move me. They inspire me. They make me check myself because one day I want my friends to say the same things about me. That’s a good measure of a great person and a wonderful friend.

I’ll definitely be back to that l’il pub..even though I may be considered an outsider because I don’t live in the neighborhood. There, as an outsider, I felt more at home than I have in a lot of places I grew up in or around.

Two post scripts:
1. Michael – the photographer – older, retired gentleman just launching a photography business because he “loves it. If it takes off, great. If not, so what. It’s what I love to do.” His web site will be (once it’s up and running) www.shotsfromacanon.com. Check the site out in a few months and see if it’s up. I told him I would keep checking and maybe order some photography. He wasn’t selling it and didn’t ask – I offered. He had his portfolio with him and most were breathtaking pictures of the natural beauty and architecture of our capital city.

2. My Dawson’s Creek fetish has passed – by force. They no longer come on every morning on TBS at 9 a.m. Now it’s sporadic – an episode here, an episode there – that Tivo still seems to catch. Woe is me, but it’s ok. I don’t need all that DC with the new fall shows starting! What’s on your must-see list this fall? Mine (in no particular order – and don’t laugh!) are:

One Tree Hill (I’m just going to go ahead and get that one out of the way now)
Grey’s Anatomy
House
Private Practice
Big Shots
Family Guy
Ugly Betty
The Office
The Tyra Banks Show
Flip This House
Property Ladder
Tori & Dean: Inn Love (Lee, I’m gonna hurt you for getting me hooked on this!)
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels (Ash, I’m gonna hurt you for getting me hooked on this!)

I won’t keep all of those as the season goes on, but that’s what I’m starting with. The poor Tivo box.