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| Thursday, April 15, 2004 |
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"LeTourneau?" The voice was quiet, confident, and somewhat raspy.
"Wh-? Oh. Yes."
"Senior?"
"Yes."
"Engineer?"
"Nope."
"Business?"
"Nope."
"?" The old cowboy standing beside my table looked his question.
"Actually, my degree is Biblical Studies."
He nodded his approval while looking over the books scattered in front of me.
"I am a priest - of sorts."
"Oh? What sort?"
"Episcopalian. What church are you connected with?"
"Basically non-denominational."
"That's Episcopalian."
I just smiled. I was still not sure what to make of this man. He had a gentle smile.
"My name is Papa. Yours?" He stuck out his hand to shake mine.
"Lauren."
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Lauren."
He turned and walked back to his table. His cowboy boots making a thumping sound while his long grey trench coat and well-worn cowboy hat brought up images of western saloons with gunslingers and their woman of choice for the evening. A sheriff walking down the street, eyes squinting against the sun but not missing the smallest detail. I could imagine dust from the trail on his faded jeans and boots. While he had been talking to me, I kept glancing at his hip expecting to see a six-shooter. I followed him with my eyes wondering who he was and where he was from. He was old - but had a vitality about him that belied the wrinkles and hearing aid.
I noticed him looking my way a couple times but turned my attention back to my homework. A short time later a napkin was dropped on my table, I looked up as Papa walked off.
"If your cell ok
free - *69 & call
me 903 *** ****
I wish to ask you a ? about 5th book of Old Testament."
Papa
I had no intention of giving my cell number to a man I had met at 2am at the Waffle Shoppe. I decided that since he was sitting across the restaurant from me, he could just walk over if he really wanted me to answer a question. He did.
"What are we allowed to eat according to the 5th book of the OT?"
"Well, God told the Jews not to eat anything that was considered unclean." (Good B.S. answer...)
"Do you eat beef?"
"Definitely."
"I don't. I only eat fish, chicken, fruits, vegetables. Beef is bad for you."
"Smoking bad for you too." I gestured to the cigarette he was holding.
"tobacco is a part of my religion." He gave a quirky smile, "I'm Indian." (I wish I could remember which kind.) Then he got serious.
"It is good you study. We need people to learn. Hear that? (Ironically, he was referring to a group of AO guys that were sitting near me and talking loudly.) It is just noise. Listen, only noise. We must tolerate them or teach them. I cannot teach everyone. I am getting old. See this hearing aid? I do not hear as well as I used to. I fired too many guns without protection. Now I use protection. I fight defense, not offense. Always defense. I fight crime, fight drugs, fight terrorism. You do not have runny eyes, you are steady, that is good. It has been a pleasure to meet you, Lauren. Continue to study."
With those last words of wisdom, he turned and walked out. The last of the old west, fading into legend.
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posted by Unknown @ 12:12 PM   |
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