The Guy Who Knows So Much

Okay, so my life is only interesting because of the people in it. I rarely go anywhere or do anything that is out of the ordinary. But, that's is really okay because, I get to do so many things vicariously through the fabulous people around me.
Each day when I get home from work and on most weekends my back yard is occupied by several retired or semi-retired middle-aged men. Today my husband is wiring our back patio for lighting and putting in outlets so that we can plug in various appliances.
His company for the day is a neighbor that is an emergency room nurse. This guy is one of the nicest, most interesting guys I have ever met. He could be easily dismissed by those who judge others by appearance. He is a middle aged guy with a pony tail who wears either overalls or scrubs with jeans. My husband and he drink beer, talk a bit too loud, laugh, and talk about everything.

If you dismiss him you are really missing out. You would never guess he suffers from MS. He doesn't ever let it get him down. He is a nice guy who will do anything for you. In addition he generously shares his life experiences with you...and he has had incredibly interesting experiences. He has hung out and played harmonica with some of the real rock legends. He is an avid gardener, brews really good beer, and roasts coffee. He has friends everywhere, from the local chicken wing joint to the oyster joint in Bodega Bay. The kind, generous acts that grow these friendships are just second nature to him.
He enjoys watching the nesting doves in our back yard...however does not share my affinity for squirrels. To me squirrels are tempted close with almonds and it has reached the point where I have found them sitting on our back porch waiting for my husband to give them their treats. To the neighbor they are rodents, fruit thieves, and pests.
He answers my medical questions generously. He is a brilliant man who is constantly learning something new. He is willing to learn about anything. When he learns it is not just the surface stuff that anyone might read, it is learned throughly, in depth, with mutliple views taken into consideration. Some people may think that because of all he talks about that it is "just bullshit". It is not, he is for real.

Today he is excited. He is often excited by something new he has learned. Today is still exceptional, he is starting a bee colony in his back yard. He has made a new friend who has the know how and is sharing with him. Not surprising is the fact that he already has books and knows quite a bit. He is up on the most current events involving the subject. Part of his excitement is that it is something he can do that may help our world produce food. He likes the idea of producing something useful. He is thinking about honeycomb, honey, wax for candles, and pollination for his garden. I'm thinking, "oh boy! More lemons, blueberries, and other goodies!" He is generous with what he does and produces.
Having such a person in your life just gives you a feeling of enthusiasm for life. It makes me want to dig deeper into things I am interested in and to take action on things I have been putting off.
When I was younger I was full of this same sort of enthusiasm for things. When I learned something I usually took it to extremes. I liked old things, I studied everything about antiques I could get my hands on and started a small business. Before that I had sewn some costumes and clothing for children. I created my own patterns, came up with fresh ideas, and successfully sold costumes for a couple of years. I gardened. I grew plants from seed and had a yard that, with my husband's skill with pouring concrete, ended up looking like something out of Sunset Magazine.
That enthusiasm, I don't know where or when it went, but looking at this I realize how much of it did. I did pour much of it into seeing that my kids were educated, healthy, happy people. But, you know, it isn't like you pour it out and it is gone, the bucket usually gets filled again by something else. I think perhaps, I  depend too much on the interesting people in my life. Somewhere along the line I quit seeing the "something else". So, my dear neighbor thank you for making my life so much more interesting by sharing your life and in doing so giving me a bit of a wake up call. You are not only one of my husband's best friends, you are my friend as well.