Meanings
The crack in the front door was whistling cold wind through it. Pulling my old quilt up over my head didn't help much. 6 bells rang out on the old Seth Thomas. Kind of a weak sickly clank. I was going to have to wind it or it'd stop and not tell what hour it was. Not that it mattered much anyway, the thing didn't keep very good time. Always ran slow. Like me I guess. I'm the harbormaster at George Manger's Marina. The place has been here for 76 years and you can sure tell it. Run down and needing repairs, George didn't care much. I guess at it's age not much can be done with it anyway. Someday it'll just fall apart and be gone. Like me I guess. It's probably a good thing too. Make room for some newer slips. Younger owners with fancy boats. I lived in a small shack at the head of the ramp. George had hired me to keep watch on what few boats were left in the marina. I could stay rent free in the old office and he'd pay me a little. That and a Social Security check kept me in food and a beer now and again. Shoot!, My legs were cold and hurting. Each and every one of my scars reminded me that they were still there. Time to get up and make coffee. A hot cup of Joe would warm up all the old parts 'n I could finally get moving. Then the damned phone rang. I been meaning to get one of them new fangled telephones with no wires so's I can have it next to my bed. Then I wouldn't have to get up and walk over to the wall next to the galley stove every time it rang. But I hadn't. The stupid phone kept Jangling. Whoever was on the other end wouldn't hang up. I jumped out of bed. OUCH!. I stepped on a bottle cap I'd left on the floor last night. Four letter words were still spouting out of my mouth when I got to the phone. "Hey Pappy, you having fun yet ?" . It was 'D' .. for 30 years or more those had been the first words out of his mouth every time he called. "Yea" I said, "Lots of fun. I just cut my foot, It's colder than a witch's nipples, and it's too damned early for you to call me". Before coffee and my slow wake up, I'm not too civil in the morning. "Hey, just called to check up on you. You OK ? " "I will be as soon as I get coffee". I barked. "OK, Wanta go sailing today ?" "No".. "Well, If you change your mind give me a call".. He hung up. I limped over to the stove and the coffee pot, opened the cupboard and , Crap! .. I was out of coffee. There was a knock on the door. Josh is a young kid that drops by once in a while. Usually excited over some "new" boat he's working on. Geez, Why do they always have to be so full of piss and vinegar? He, of course, had a "Beautiful" wooden boat he wanted me to see. I begged off. He left and I watched him jog up the ramp as he headed away. Why do these people always bother me when I don't feel good? I dug around in the garbage can looking for yesterday's coffee grounds. Maybe I could get at least a cup out of the old stuff. Yuk! I'd dumped left over chili on the grounds. Well, that's that. The phone rang again. It was Jerry. He , Chuck and John were going out for a late breakfast and wondered if I'd come along. My foot hurt, I was getting colder, I needed coffee.. but I said " Not today" The phone rang again. It was Harry! " How's your health? " He purred. "I'm OK, Harry. Just a little tired" (I didn't tell him I was "tired" of answering the phone). "Hadn't heard from you in a while. Thought I'd check" He said. "Thanks for checking.. Gotta go ".. I lied The door rattled from a knocking.. Again! It was pouring rain and there was Dennis standing soaking in the chilly drizzle. "Dennis what in the hell are you doing all the way down here? " I grumped. He lived a long way away and I hadn't seen him in a couple years. He shook my hand and said, " I had to be down here for some work I gotta do, I thought I'd stop by. I don't have time to stay, but I wanted to see if you were still alive" (funny man, I sure didn't feel "alive") "Well, Gotta go. I'll make it a longer visit next time" He was walking away still smiling. Hmmmm? That was strange. The phone was ringing again. I stumbled over the garbage can and knocked it over. Stuff flew everywhere. I Grabbed the phone and yelled " YEA ! Who's calling? " " It's Scott, Hey there. Diane, Taryn and I were wondering why we haven't heard from you lately? " " Oh, Hi Scott. I've been really busy around here. You know, I'm sorry but I just can't seem to find the time lately". I lied again. Truth was, that I mostly sat around the shack, complaining to myself. My legs hurt, My head hurt, my, whatever, hurt .. Like the marina, I was just getting old and who gave a damn anyway? I heard the mailman slip something into the slot of the shack's door. There was a lot of Ads and credit card applications.. Oh, there WAS a letter from my friend Pamela. She had some gossip and shared a few stories about her family and asked "How I was doing?" I wished I could tell her just how rotten I felt. Also, there was an invitation to come visit another friend Lesley up in BC. I hadn't talked to her in a long time. I'd like visit, but it's a long way to go and I'm getting too old to travel. Outside it was raining harder and the wind had picked up. I sat in the shack looking at the awful weather outside. It was a Doggy Doo Day. The cut on my foot throbbed. I needed coffee bad! There was another knock on my front door. AND..what sounded like humming coming from outside. It was Old Les standing outside the door singing some dumb Scottish Bag Pipe tune. For crying out loud ! "Hey,Brother, I thought I'd drop by and say hello. Oh, and I brought you a Starbucks Americano. I know you like them ? " " I can sure use it Les. It's been a crappy day " . I growled. "Well, here you go. I'm off to play pipes for some folks across town" He said. Humming that Highland tune, he wheeled around and marched off like some Crazy kilt swinging Blackwatch Guard. The rest of the day was pretty much the same.. Phone calls, and people I know..."Dropping by". I was getting really sick of it.. Why couldn't they JUST LEAVE ME ALONE ? It was starting to get dark, the wind had made all the boats in the marina rock back and forth in their slips. Long forgotten halyards were Clanking and Clinking against masts. It was going to be another miserable night.. The Phone started ringing again! I slowly picked up the handset. If this was going to be another "Smiley Face " acquaintance... I was going to let 'em have it.. I was tired of all this crap. "Hi, dear old friend! " "Mary, what the hell are you doing calling? I thought you'd be off scuba diving in some warm water part of the world". " I'm back. I just wanted to call my friend". I didn't know what to say. Why would she call just to say she was my friend. After all I'm a grouchy old man with bad legs and a bad attitude. "Mary, Do you need something ? " I waited for the "other shoe to drop" . "Nope, I just wanted to say THANKS for being my friend".. Thanks ? Thanks for being a friend? What "Friend" had I been anyway ? Crabby and sour, I just take up space around here..Not much reason for Thanks. Thanks ? Thanks ..For What ? Then it HIT me! Why you old poop! You SHOULD be saying thanks. Thanks to all the friends you've had these many years. Thanks for all the love and respect that they have given you. Thanks to amazing people who, without asking for anything in return, make your life worth living. Thanks to them for Putting up with you all this time. You should Give Thanks to THEM!. Thanks . Giving? I liked the sound of those two words. It was getting warmer outside, the wind calmed and my foot didn't hurt anymore.. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone ! Ralph E. Ahseln November 2007
