old man’s eyes

I remember very clearly walking alone through the gothic quarter in Barcelona, wandering down streets, into various stores and galleries and public places, and after most of the day walking, finally arriving at the statue of Columbus where there were tour buses everywhere.

I know I am old, but I walked by myself through the city with ease and pleasure on a hot day to meet my family at a restaurant by the beach later in the day. I saw and heard and felt and experienced some measure of the city and the people. I tasted the city.

The tour bus windows were tinted, making it hard to see inside, but when the light was just right I could see the eyes of many people, looking out at Barcelona. Perhaps they came from other parts of Spain or from other countries or, like me, from another continent, but they looked to be very old, perhaps not able to walk through the city.

They were a reminder to me that I want to see this world while I am still able to take my body and my self into the world and experience it in person, with no tinted glass between me and the world. Ok, maybe sunglasses, but no more cover than that. I remember looking through the window and into the eyes of a man much older than I. We saw each other and both of us smiled.

I wanted to go into the bus and find out more, but of course I kept going towards my family. Two of my daughters and my wife had just spent their first day ever on a topless beach and I was anxious to ask them the obvious questions and have a great time laughing about it over delicious seafood and clara’s.

I was glad I chose to walk through the gothic quarter that day and especially fortunate to look through that bus window to see the eyes looking out at me with such desire to be on my side of the glass. It was a terrific reminder, if i needed one, that now is the time to explore the world.

My heart goes out to the people in Hong Kong. They risk so much more than we can understand. Read my post about Wuhan (coming soon) if you have any doubt about the potential risks to these young people. It’s not like here.  It can turn into a lifetime. Or a life. And still they go out, reaching for the last chances at freedom, in their lifetimes and probably many more.

I believe they feel the weight and responsibility of their place in history. No matter what happens going forward, these young adults have made history already. These are bright, well educated people with the chance for a guaranteed life of mediocrity and boredom, of doing all the right things and doing as one is told, and toiling forever and still, never catch the billionaires. Never catch them, barely can fathom them, and they are angry.

David