“Good Morning!” I heard a cheery voice say from behind me. I did not have to turn around on my barstool to know who’s smiling face I would soon see. It was around eight in the morning and I was in the Tower Bar, downtown San Diego, California. Probably the only bar I knew that had its ‘Happy Hour’ during the morning rush hours. My partner and I were frequent visitors as was the lady who took the barstool next to me.
Without looking I mumbled into my Vodka and OJ, “Hey Melinda.” She did not respond but I could feel those intense blue eyes burning holes into me. And as Tommy the bartender set a double Bloody Mary in front of her, she shoved me and said, “Why is it that every time I see you in here you look as if the world is on your shoulders? And where is that good looking partner of yours? And isn’t it a glorious morning out there?” I finally looked up from my drink and said, “Should I answer those questions in order or do you have a priority?” With that she slapped me on the back and her head fell back in laughter. “You kill me, Johnny! I tell you what, you simply kill me.” Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to my drink without saying another word.
I had known Melinda for over two years, but I did not know her last name. I did not know if she was married, if she had kids or if she was an alien space invader. I just knew her as “Tower Melinda” the daily fixture in this old town bar. Yeah, I had heard rumors that she had been married once and she had a kid somewhere, but I never sat here during our morning drinks sharing anything about life. I guess you could say our only common thread was booze and this bar.
I was daydreaming again when I heard her ask again, “Where is that gorgeous partner of yours, at least he has a personality and will keep this old woman company when I see him. Not you though. Always quiet and keeping to yourself.” Then she mumbled something else and raised her glass seeking a refill. Now I was angry and said, “Melinda, I talk to you every time I see you. Maybe I am not ready at seven or eight in the morning to discuss world affairs like my blabber-mouth partner, Bill is. So, give me a break would you.” As I looked at her for a moment she was silent, then she put her hand on my shoulder, “Listen, John, life is short. If you add up all these mornings of silence and anger you have instead of seeing some of the beauty and good around all of us. You will soon be old like me and lonely.” For a minute I saw deep sorrow in her eyes, then they began to sparkle again, and she yelled down the bar to Tommy as he was making her drink, “This round is on Johnny here.” Pointing at me. I just shrugged and nodded my head in agreement. It was the last time I ever saw Melinda.
Time. When we were kids it moved so slow. We wanted the school day to be over, so we could go out and play. Wishing the school year would moved by quicker anticipating summer. Yearning to be older so we could do all the fun stuff adults do! Can you relate?
Some way or another it happens, adulthood! All those ‘fun’ things we dreamed of become work and responsibilities. Now life starts to zoom past. Our days are spent trying to chase the ‘dream’ and chasing our kids. Years now seem more like childhood weeks. Life a compilation of minutes and seconds turns to years gone by. Old now some of us wonder, “Where did it all go?” And sometimes I know I wonder, the ‘what ifs’ things I could have taken the time to do or to say. Well, as I am writing this, and you are reading, it must mean that I am not dead yet and neither are you!
Time. I realize I have wasted a lot of it. And maybe that is why every day I have such an urgency to not waste any more. Victor Hugo, writer of such books as the “Count of Monte Christo” said this, “Short as life is, we make it still shorter by careless waste of time.” A true saying, if I have ever heard one.
I am sure you hard working and kid raising folks out there will say, “Listen, buddy, I am not wasting time. I have a job and three kids to raise!” I sure agree that you have a busy life if this is yours or you have anything like it. All I ask is that you take time for God. Maybe it would mean you might have to go to bed an hour earlier and get up an hour earlier in the morning to spend that hour with the One who gave you this life. Would you be able to do that?
Jesus said this, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6) Our God seeks quiet time with us and if we are willing, He will reward you throughout your busy, time-flying day.
I never saw Melinda again, partly because my partner’s and my work drew us away from San Diego, so we could not attend Happy Hour for over a year. By the time we returned Melinda had been dead for a few months. No one had a lot of details, that is how it works in bars. People come, and people go. But I remember those words Melinda said to me. Today I rise without looking for a booze eye-opener, thank you Lord. I have replaced that with a ‘slow’ hour of prayer and His Word. That old bar woman was right, life is short. But what she didn’t tell me is, eternity is forever. And if we wish today to slow down enough to reflect on Him, soon time will no longer be a factor. What a day that will be!
Happy Sabbath and Blessings,
John
8/31/18
