Aug
In a Rut
Many years ago, I had worked for a friend’s company doing construction work. His was one of several outfits hired by a larger company for several jobs down south. The work was done mainly in the off season. Each job might last a few weeks, and then we went to the next one.
I remember one town that ran the gamut from middle class to no class. Among its handful of eateries was a small sandwich shop that also served beer. We found it convenient for take-out food. On a few occasions, several of us sat down to eat and got talking to the locals. Among the folks who habituated the shop’s tables were a handful of questionable characters who lived in a rooming house next door to the place. They were an odd mix of old men, middle aged idlers and young folks just out of their teens. Birds of a feather flock together, and that crew was a great big Naud Rune. It became clear to us that when buying from that shop, “take out” was the way to go.
A few years later, some friends and I were taking a trip. The route passed the town. I had told them a couple of funny stories about the place, and just for fun we took a quick side trip. I showed them the quirky little sandwich shop. We decided to go in and get a few bottles of soda for the road.
Going into the place was amusing, because it looked exactly the same as it had the last time I had seen it. The same signs, the same menu board, the same people behind the counter. Sitting just where they were the last time were the old men and middle aged idlers. The only change was the younger men. Apparently, the other young ne’er-do-wells moved on so a new crew could take their place. Young or old, they were all “living in neutral.”
While the rest of us move through life, some never move at all. They are in the same place doing the same things, going nowhere fast. Direction and purpose are lacking. Idleness is its own curse. It is a meaningless existence just outside the flow of life.
There are occasions when we recognize our own assets by seeing those who have none. We should be grateful that we each have a direction and a purpose. Our lives make a difference because we choose our course. As a result, our lives count.
