This morning I decided to write a short piece involving an incident that happened a few years ago in Northern California. I’d met a couple of young men and given them bogus directions by mistake. While I was writing the draft I noticed time was fleeting, that my son Sam was soon to be arriving to visit and pick up a set of studded snows for his SAAB. I hadn’t eaten yet so I snapped to and made a rapid selection of foods to pulverize in my Nutribullet.
I chose a frozen banana, a few cups of lettuce, a scoop of protein powder, and a quarter cup of dried cranberries and raisins. I added a measure of liquid for making a smoothie. I set the container into the motorized base and the thing began to transmogrify the contents. A few transmogrifying moments into the process a loud snap and collision occurred inside the Nutribullet causing a splat of cranberries and raisins to appear on the sides of the clear plastic mixing cup. It was quite sudden and startled me. SPLAT!!!! The cranberries and raisins plastered against the clear plastic and slid down toward the spinning mass inside. I was immediately reminded of the 1986 film The Fly when the baboon used in a test is wrongfully turned inside out during an experiment. The baboon’s insides are splattered all over the inside of the transporter. Quite a horrible scene. Ugh!
I finished the process of mixing the smoothie and I drank it trying not to think too hard on the scene of the inside out baboon.
Here is the short story I wrote this morning involving an interaction with people I met on a trip back a few years ago. I was in Northern California, one of my favorite places on earth. I hope you are even slightly entertained with this memory. May this day be good for you and yours. Peace.
GIVING DIRECTIONS
A few years ago I was driving California 1 between the coast and where it connects with U.S.101 in the town of Leggett. This part of the coast is labeled on maps as the Northern Coast Range. Believe me when I tell you that it may be the most lovely of all the coasts I’ve driven. Route 1 follows the coast north to Fort Bragg and about 20 miles later at Rockport the road dives inland almost due East. Most of the roads in Northern California are two lane affairs that change direction to conform to the mountains and rugged contours in between. Especially near the ocean.
The town of Leggett, California enjoys the scenic array of this range and long sweeping views of redwoods. It was while I was driving this highway and stopping to photograph the flora that I met two nice young men heading in the same direction. I’ll bet they thought I was a nice older man. They inquired about a junction shown on the map that was along this section of highway. I’d noticed the place name they were curious about as well and I was certain it was still a few miles ahead, when in fact it was truly a few miles behind us. My certainty ruled the day and I gave them confidence that they were almost there.
What was there not to believe? Here was a nice older man stopped by the side of this gorgeous and scenic highway taking photographs of flora and he spoke intelligently and confidently and with authority. With smiles and head bobs and small waves of hands and other grateful gestures off they went to find their junction. I remained by the road fully localized, and now feeling quite native, by their belief in me and my own happy feelings of love for this area. I almost lingered in the hopes that another car full of tourists might need directions.
A few hours later I was finally on U.S. 101. I was surprised to not have passed through the junction in question. I made a stop to satisfy my curiosity and much to my chagrin I saw that I had not been truthful regarding its location. I hope their trip was not too inconvenienced by my poor directions. Oh, well. As the fox says, “Some days chicken, some days feathers”.
G. M. Goodwin
25 October 2015
Playing Fair and Being Kind 