Wednesday, March 07, 2007
don of the universe...
I first met Don in 1994, on the campus of the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. He was sitting back, long white hair and beard, gently smiling at the crowd of jeering students that had gathered to laugh at preacher Joe who was spewing his special brand of fire, brimstone, hatred and insults from the free speech green in front of the student Union building. Nothing guides students into questioning their faith better than angry preachers on college campuses. Good job Joe.
Don just sat on a bench, watching. I needed a rest, and thought I'd sit on the bench next to him for a bit and enjoy the spring sun and the interesting show before us. I swung my backpack down to the grass beside the bench, and took a seat. I sat in silence for a bit, then looked over at the man next to me and said "what do you think of this guy?" indicating preacher Joe. Don looked at me, and it was then that I knew there was something different about him. His countenance at once expressed to me both age and youth, wisdom and whimsy.
"Oh, he's like all the others, mostly." He said, in a lilting voice and a slight wave of his hand. I shrugged and went back to resting and watching preacher Joe's performance. As I sat, I felt the presence of Don next to me swell and almost overtake my senses. I shook my head and looked over at him. His smile was gone, and he looked like he was in deep thought. But his thought was interrupted by my movement, and he looked at me.
"I'm sorry, I was remembering something." He said. It was at that moment that I realized how deep and wide his memory was. He had known so much, had seen so much, had been so many places, that the very essence of these memories swelled around him like an invisible aura. "Did you feel it?" He said.
"Yes. Why did I feel you remembering?" I asked.
"People do sometimes. Hello, my name is Don." he thrust his hand toward me in an awkward fashion. I took it and shook it in the normal way, but a numbness shot through my right hand and up my arm before I released my grip. "Sorry again." he said, sensing my discomfort. "Some people are more sensitive, it seems."
"To what?" I asked.
"To me." He then turned and watched preacher Joe for a while longer. "He doesn't feel it, though he should." He finally said, indicating preacher Joe. Then he turned to me and said "Shouldn't you be getting to your Anthropology class?"
"Yes. How did you..."
"Just something I sensed." He interrupted. "You'd better get going now. We'll talk more later."
"Where will you be?" I said as I got up and gathered my bag.
"Around." he said with a wave of his hand.Labels: don of the universe
