Osprey - 6-20-2007 at 07:35 PM
Okay Amir, part 2
Crystal Summer
Part Two
Harold
Harold watched me and Ray Lee struggling with my old boat trailer winch down on the beach. He walked over to tell us what we were doing wrong. That
pretty much set the stage for every minute I would spend in his company. Don’t get me wrong, Harold’s got a heart of gold. Harold’s brain holds a
lot of data about a lot of things; his every waking moment finds him deep in an exercise wherein he envisions all things around him in a cluttered
disharmony his ordered mind cannot abide. He gives everything the once over while he mentally rearranges things so they suit his way of thinking. I’m
a keen observer so I saw this trait in the man that very first morning; not surprised at his expressions as we walked onto my patio. He holds back
much of his rearranging talk until he gets to know you. As and if your friendship grows, the more he will share.
After the requisite number of beers we shared on my patio, Harold took in a little air and cautiously said “You know, Jorge, you can change the
doorswing on that fridge, save some steps.”
I told him my new energy saver Korean-made fridge was appropriately priced,
was the last one in the store and that it lacked the changeable door feature. Harold’s penchant for change and betterment does not allow him to be so
easily rebuffed.
He said “We could drill some new holes, I can fashion some new hinges, make some small changes in the rubber sealer gasket and you’ll be back in
business.”
That suggestion would not hang long in the air. It required a long-winded explanation about appliance uselife, energy costs in Mexico and some
histrionics involving Patty’s old house in Sacramento, my big cargo trailer and some trouble we encountered at the customs office in Tecate.
Harold’s obsession will always hold my interest. Just imagine what it must be like for him to walk into a stranger’s garden, enter his home, sit
down for a cup of coffee while mentally replanting trees, rebuilding fountains and pools, tearing down walls, erecting arches, replacing windows and
repainting nearly everything. He is calculating airflow, insulation values, traffic flow while employing imaginary environmentally friendly building
materials wherever appropriate.
His palms, the backs of his hands, his neck and face tell the tale of his long employment driving heavy equipment in the U.S. southwest. At 6 feet,
he’s a little taller than me but carries his weight better. I’ve never seen Harold in anything but jeans even when it’s over 100 degrees. I’m in
shorts or a bathing suit probably 300 days a year.
My place is better for the little projects he nudged me into but my end always carried a begrudging kind of attention. He’s still a little peeved
that I haven’t gotten around to steam cleaning and painting the engine on my old, rusty pickup; also there still remains that pesky wrong-way fridge
in my kitchen. So, all in all knowing Harold has changed me for the better. I even find myself in idle observation of things Harold would love to
fix; a boat riding too low in the water, a patio on the windy side of the house, rows of trees hiding a lovely view of the beach. Who knows, Maybe
there’s a little Harold in each of us.
amir - 6-20-2007 at 07:45 PM
More! More! More!
cabobaja - 6-20-2007 at 08:02 PM
Osprey, you need to write a book. I'll buy it!
DavidT - 6-20-2007 at 08:07 PM
My Mom always says that everyone should write.
I'm sure glad you listened to her.
Cypress - 6-20-2007 at 08:23 PM
Thanks.
Looking foreward to the next story.
amir - 6-20-2007 at 08:31 PM
Some readers might have missed Part One of this series by Osprey.
It was also posted today under the thread title: "3 Easy Pieces"
Crystal Summer
Part One
Jacqui
[Edited on 6-21-2007 by amir]
Marie-Rose - 6-20-2007 at 08:45 PM
Another great character sketch...send Harold over to my place!!
woody with a view - 6-21-2007 at 06:26 AM
i think there is a little Harold in all of us.....
Crusoe - 6-21-2007 at 06:55 AM
Seahawk.........SO GOOD-SO GOOD.........MORE.....MORE.......PLEASE.....PLEASE!! ++C++