Tuesday With Arlen?

The weather was so beautiful yesterday, and though it was cool to some, I would be happy if every single day of the year were the same temperature and humidity. Plus my hair looked awesome!

Anyway, I decided to change things up and park at the Topton Home, jog down to the track, run a few miles, and jog back. Once I finished my little routine around the home, I neared the school to find there was a baseball game in progress on the field next to the track. I wouldn't care except that the spectators sit on the inside of the track to watch the game. Why? I don't know, but it annoys me because I would have to jog in front of them every lap and after a while I just feel dumb. Drives me nuts!

So, I decided to jog down and cross the road and jog through the residential section. I had been down that way before when this same thing happened last year, so I just kept going, knowing I couldn't get lost.

I past an elderly gentleman who commented that he wished he could do what I was doing. It seemed rude to just wave as if to say, yeah, it sucks to be you, so I crossed the street and jogged in place.

He said, "Oh, I'm so glad you stopped", to which I thought, oh great I hope I'm not going to be harangued for too long. Well, I continued to jog in place and we talked about jogging paths and where he had run in his younger days. I had gotten tired of jogging in place on an incline and felt a bit stupid now that the conversation had gone on much longer than I had anticipated.

He apologized that his nose was running and so I handed him a tissue. I always take them when I jog because my nose is always running, gross I know, but that is my life. He was reluctant to take it, but I insisted that it was no problem.

He said he missed running, but he just couldn't anymore. I said I had voiced my concern about wear on my joints for the future and he mentioned he would run upwards of ten miles in the Marine Corps and that I would be stronger in the future for my efforts today. He told me he was 80 and only needed a cane.

I said, "You were in the Marine Corps?"

"Yes, 22 years."

"Thank you for your service to this country." With his head down, he said,

"No, no I didn't say that for you to thank me."

"Listen! Thank you for your service." He looked up and said,

"Thank you."

Then he said after all these years he has one regret. He wishes he would have stayed in the service for 29 years and not gotten out so soon. It was all he could think about each evening while he watched television with his dog, Amber close by him. He had traveled to many places and taken his family when he could. His youngest daughter was born in Copenhagen, but he still wishes he would have stayed.

I felt like a heel for initially not want to stop and talk to this "old man". Then I was humbled by the fact that he was reluctant to take a tissue from me. Something is terribly amiss. I have noticed from many service people that they do not walk around thinking we owe them anything, when we owe them so much. Honestly, a tissue is the least I can give in return.

It had started to get dark and I said I should get going. The path I took was a loop and I had to pass him again. I said good night and he bid me to hurry because the moon was rising.

What a sweet man, outside with his dog at night, engaging in conversation with people he meets, wishing after all these years he could have served his country more. I don't know the actual years you need to be born to be considered a part of the greatest generation, but technical or not, Arlen form Topton is definitely among them.

I didn't get all the jogging in I wanted to on account of it getting dark and my hapchance meeting. But, I'm so glad for the opportunity to meet an interesting character, and I'm glad I took it. I had just been thinking that I so often forgo building relationships with people because I have some task I need to get done. And while to let every task go, would be irresponsible, some tasks just don't have the timeline we put on them. I don't expect that it will turn into a Tuesdays with Arlen type scenario, but if I see him again I will stop and chat.

When I read the Bible and notice Jesus' interactions with people, He never seems hurried. He's not the "white rabbit" that I can be so often. He is calm, He is interested in people, and He is present. Granted, He is perfect and is all those things to people even now, but I want to be like that for Him and others. Those of you who know me, and even those of you who don't, please pray, I have so far to go and the moon is rising.