step for step

driving on Washington Ave on the UofM campus in the middle of the day is never fun.
people are everywhere, you miss all the green lights, bicyclers think they are cars.

yesterday i was stopped at a light and i noticed 5 business men dressed in their suits and thier briefcases on wheels in tow. they were smiling and laughing all keeping in pace with one another. The 20 degreee weather was represented by the smoke rolling from thier mouths with each laugh or comment.

the part that really made me smile was the man walking directly behind them. only a few steps behind. however, his left foot hit the ground the same time as each of the business men, followed by thier right. step, for step.

He was probably in his mid twenties, had a long full beard, wore a stocking cap that , by no means, could hold his hair under. his taterted pants were tucked into work boots that were only half laced and partially untied. The smoke coming from his mouth was half from the weather, but half from the cigarette he held in his hand. As he slouched a little to keep his backbook full of books on his left shoulder, taking a puff of his cigarette when the pace allowed, he was probobaly oblivous to the fact that he was walking in the footsteps of the success in front of him.

two generations represented, one on the rise, one in the midst.
how delightful.

I had a moment about 2 weeks ago when i suddenly was afraid of everything. I cried everyday and was sertain something terrible was going to happen to me next.

I read through newspapers as a part of my job to find the ads that we place through our marketing department. I can't help but read the other stories that catch my eye. a few things that had me overwhelmed,

• a man in canada slicing up that kid on the bus
• a guy in woodbury shooting the 19yr old girl in the head while she was waiting in her car
• those 4 guys who mutilated the mentally challenged guy for 2 days
• The brutal murder of a close friend's Uncle
• having the SWAT team come and disarm 4 people at 7 am 1/2 a mile from my apartment complex.

As i began to pray against the fear i found myself wondering why i had ever come to live here anyway.

Then i took a trip home for a day. My brother had forgot his backpack at home and needed me to bring it to him early the next morning. I grabbed a hat, put on some boots that were too big and jumped in daddy's pick up truck. enjoying the feel of the truck versus my German jetta was the beginning of it all.

• As i drove through town I had to slow down as a few kids were trying to ride their bikes up the hill to get to school.
• I had to stop and wait as i saw Dean pulling an old brown rusted pick up truck behind the tow truck into Upsala motors. The farmer was riding inside the tow truck with flannel shirt, suspenders and ear flap hat.
• I waved to the feed truck as he waited to turn into the CO-OP.
• Driving out of the school parking lot Mr. A waved to me excitedly as if I was famous and he couldn't believe it was really me.
• on my way back through town I (two finger) waved at every car And the tractor I passed.
• Paul and Kathy's had a big white board out and written in Black Marker was a description of their one day meat sale.

I went back home and was reminded how simple things really are. I do not need to be afraid. That trip through town did more for me than I could have ever expected.

Thank you Kevin... for being forgetful.