The Raindancer

Depending on How You See a Thing

This Sunday morning’s activities deviated from my typical routine as I forewent attending the 10:15 church service for the one at 6:00 p.m. this evening. While walking my dog, a car stopped, its windows rolled down and a female head popped out.

“Hi, Clay,” the head said.

“Good morning,” I responded without a clue as to whom I was speaking.

“This is your second grade teacher, Mrs. Lucky, if you remember me,” the head said.

“Hi, Mrs. Lucky. How could I forget you?” I said. She was after all my favorite teacher. “How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you. You still look like a little boy—” she said

Wait. Say what now? That’s the last thing any guy wants to hear, especially a guy in his 50s.

Apparently, the years stripped Mrs. Lucky of any inhibition in speaking her mind. While my forty-eight inches may be close to the height of any garden variety second grader, my build is anything but. I mean, come on. Middle-age does that to a body.

“—in the face. You look good! Bye!” she said, rolled up her window, and drove away.

“Thank you,” I said and waved good-bye.

Time also must have ravaged her vision as I sported the beginnings of my annual winter beard.

 

I guess the way you see a person or thing really does depend on how you look at it. From a distance and with the passing of time, the easily recognized has a tendency to look the same. Upon closer inspection even the familiar changes in appearance and in essence.

The 80s group Deee-lite inspired the title of this post. The lyrics are as follows—

Depending on you see a thing
The ship is free or is it sinking?
Depending on how you see it
You cage your mind or you free it
Depending on how you see the times
The world divides or it closely binds

But I just wanna hear a good beat
I just wanna, I just wanna
But I just wanna hear a good beat
I just wanna hear a good beat, ooh

Depending on you see a thing
The ship is free or is it sinking?
Depending on how you see it
The song is over or you keep it
Depending on how you see the times
Were wasting time or in a moving line
But I just wanna hear a good beat

Oh oh, oh ah
I just wanna hear a good beat
Just piano and bass
Everything will be alright
When you feel it tonight
Zu zu zu, wah zu wah
I just wanna hear a good beat

— DEE-LITE