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Oh, the Sights You Will See
North Miami Beach, Florida 10-29-2000 Aaron H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
OH, THE SIGHTS YOU'LL SEE
I hadn't intended to write today. I am to visit Temple Bat Yam at 11:30
this morning to try to engender interest in my puppets before a group of
children. But, if you'll come along with me -oh, the sights you'll see.
This morning was cool and clear and early light due to the switch to
daylight saving time. So I decided after getting up about 5:30 (old time)
that was 4:30 new time I fooled around and ate a light breakfast and found
that the Miami Herald was delivered by someone working on old time. I read
all that interested me and found that the election was still up in the air
although the emotional preferred Bush and the thoughtful would take Gore.
No one is particularly fired up about either gent. The Herald came out for
Gore after not backing a presidential candidate in 15 years.
It was still early, the sun was barely up and it was cool and dry in South
Florida. So, I donned the appropriate regalia and went out to bravely bike
the usually baking back streets of blindingly sunny Florida. I found that
there were early walkers out who either looked away or glanced up at me as I
thundered past. Some are shy or just look away to avoid any contact. I
usually push the issue and say "Good Morning" brightly and sometimes the
walkers look up and smile and respond.
One man who was immersed in a fog answered my call for companionship and
acknowledgement belatedly by giving me a quick look and said as if it were a
difficult task to utter a sound, "It is." He said it as if to say it as a
question, "Is it". But, at least I got a response.
I approached an odd sight that at a distance looked like one of the oddly
shaped ducks that live in the canals down here squatting, moving up and down
and pecking the pavement. As I approached closer I could see that the duck
was on top of a smaller one and was giving it what appeared to be love pecks
while paying what is universal attention to procreative matters.
At one point I found a group of homeless. They usually gather near the
canal but this time they were blocking the path. I saw the one sitting in my
way get up to accept what appeared to be food or coffee brought by a woman,
not of the group, but also carrying a purse and looking as if she came from
her home. They usually answer my "Good Morning" and did this time, too.
One rare sight was the two drivers who gave way to me. One flashed his
lights to show his intention to come down the street where I was rolling
along. The other stopped when I did and gestured for me to go as I did the
same for him. All in all, a great morning for "Good Morning!"
The best sight of all must be me. I loom large on my bike accoutered with
snappy pants, knee wrappers, helmet, rear view mirror attached to my
glasses, gloves and earphones. I wear a fisherman's vest with lots of
pockets to hold survival items on my way. The earphones are attached to my
cell phone sitting in the long pocket and fit on the bottom of the cell
phone I carry in case of problems far from home. I was given a free FM
radio that clicks onto the bottom of the cell phone and can listen to Latin
music or talk shows about drug users and their problems. That was my fare
today before the phone's charge dissipated.
If you pay attention you can see a lot of sights and if you get up early
you might see me.
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10. "Really Good!!"
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