The Pharmacy and the Old Man

Earlier in the month, I had a routine trip to the doctor to discuss the recent blood tests on my Thyroid. Turns out, I went from having HYPO-thyroidism to HYPER-thyroidism... Don't ask me how. Basically, the doctor is lowering my dose of medication. [one of the long term side effects, which unfortunately isn't reversible, is the popping of one's eyes....I don't need that to happen to me...picture it, come on, picture it....there it is. Yeah, can't happen]

They have a pharmacy right in the office, so I went on over. Turns out the computers were being slow and the prescription had yet to transfer over. So, I took a seat.

A few minutes later and old man sits a few seats down from me... Here is where our story begins...

"You go to ASU?" the old man asked upon noticing my ASU t-shirt and bag.

"I do" was all I could muster up.

"Thirty Thousand people go there. How crazy is that?"

"Actually it's more than that" there are over seventy thousand.

"Thirty Three thousand, and that's just the students" he proclaimed.

"Yes, it's a big school"

"My son went there. After he graduated he went to Johns Hopkins and became a doctor. Yep, my son's a doctor. I cannot believe my oldest son is in his sixties. I turn eighty seven this year" he trailed off and stared out nostalgically.

"That's remarkable" is all I could say

After a moment the Old Man turned back to me and continued with our conversation, "I used to make planes and missiles."

"Is that so?"

"I never went to college, and I made planes. I did school through the mail. They would send me a book. I would answer the questions and do the exercises and mail the book back. Then they would send me another. I had to draw the parts of the plane to scale. Some to the hundredths of an inch. Hundredths of an inch!"

"Wow"

"What are you studying?"

"Theatre."

"What?" he leans in closer.

I spoke slightly louder, "Theatre."

"If I had to go back, that's what I would do."

"Really?!"

"I used to make planes and missiles. I had to draw the parts of a plane to the hundredths of an inch."

"That's remarkable"

"The metal we used, it was the strongest metal in the world. But it would still bend under the pressure of the engine. After so many flights we would have to replace it. The strongest metal in the world...but it would bend."

"Wow"

"Now I am a self made artist. I love the beach. I found a shell and drew a bird on it, carved it out and now" he pulls a necklace from his shirt "I wear it around my neck."

"That's beautiful" and it was.

"Here. I want you to have this."

He hands me an object, still not quite sure what it is, made of pipe cleaners and beads.

"Thank you."

The pharmasist informs him that his prescription will not be ready until the next day at noon.

"I'm free?! Until noon tomorrow anyway."

He then turned back to me..."Good luck with your theatre thing. You have to looks for it." He turns and starts to walk out.

After a few seconds he turns back, "I hope you have the talent to match." He turned around and left.

"Me too mystery old man, me too."

Shortly after, the pharmacist called me up and gave me my prescription. I left, holding the token the old man gave me.

Most of the time, we avoid strangers...I mean, that's what we are told to do when we are younger. It is different as you get older though. You get less concerned about being kidnapped and more concerned with not being bothered. I must admit, when I saw the man look over at me, I was hoping he would keep to himself. I'm glad he didn't. Although we only talked for about ten minutes, I felt the Lord's presence in this man. I felt human. Humbled. He teared up when he was talking about his son's accomplishments and the fact that he is still alive to see his son venture into his sixties and the old man himself into his eighties. I take so much for granted. Those ten minutes opened my eyes to the simple wonders of life, and how important it is to never overlook them. Thank you Mystery Old Man.

In the words of a kind stranger, "It was the hardest metal, but it still would bend."
Life is full of turbulence but the tough stuff can still be bent.

Bon Appetit