Just before I left work yesterday, one of our regulars came in. His name is Leonard. He is a pleasure, the type of person that just makes you smile when you look at them. He is an older guy, and lost an eye to cancer some years back. Somehow, this makes him even more endearing. That and the fact that he is always wearing exactly the same outfit. Powder blue v-neck cashmere sweater, hounds tooth blazer, royal blue baseball cap. Leonard likes blue. It suits him.
He seems so vulnerable, yet capable at the same time.
He has a fine mind, and a heart of honey.
I always feel like I want to kiss him on the cheek. It looks so soft and inviting. Like a down comforter. Somehow I think it would smell like Lilacs.
Anyway, we always chat about all kinds of stuff...stereo equipment, Mozart, cars, games, the internet, Pink's hot dogs, photography, girls, gadgets, etc...
Just about anything you could think of, except health issues, herbs, or nutrition.
Perhaps I admire him so much because even though he has serious health issues, he doesn't dwell on them.
I'm not sure I could be that brave.
Oh, he takes a bevy of herbs and I have done a workup on him and given him the best that we've got.
But now that that is out of the way, we can move onto other more interesting things.
Like woofers and tweeters.
And ice cream.
Last night, when he saw me drinking a "Synergy" kombucha mushroom drink (don't ask), HE asked- "Hey, how do those taste?"
"Like really bad, very cheap wine", I said. Leonard laughed. I love making Leonard laugh. In fact, when he is around, I see it as my only mission in life.
"Why do you drink it then?" he said. I said, "Because they don't sell Coke here. This is a poor substitute, but hey, any port in a storm".
Leonard let out another big chuckle. I was on a roll.
"Hey, ever have a coke float?", he exclaimed with child-like enthusiasm... "Leonard! Have you forgotten who you are talking to? You must have me confused with one of those veganazis...OF COURSE I have! In fact, I think they have strong healing properties..."
"YES! So do I!" he said. "What kind of ice cream do you use?", he inquired.
"Haagen-Dazs Vanilla!", I said, not missing a beat.
He slapped his knee and looked at me with his good eye (which is as blue as his baseball cap).
"When it comes to ice cream Leonard, I don't fuck around", I continued.
(I love to swear around old people, I think it makes them feel young again.)
Leonard lit up like the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center and laughed up a huge wheeze of a giggle.
I felt a strong inclination to give him a big hug, and now regret that I didn't hop over the counter.
Leonard is an ice cream float.
Some people are like ice cream floats, some are like jujubes, some are like duanwood.
Some are like hot dogs.
And some are like saurkraut.
Eat, Drink, Be Merry. Worry less. Lighten your load. Kiss an old person on the cheek.
And when you feel the inclination to jump the counter for an impromptu hug, for God's sake...DO IT!
As for me, I going out for some Coke and Haagen-Dazs.
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