The Keeper of the Crypt

As the big players on the world stage prepare to enter our world for two hours, last minute preparations are maddeningly unfolding behind the scenes to ensure flawless execution of plans that have been exhaustively designed and polished to a pristine excellence.

While the main stage is a sea of peace and serenity, everything in meticulous order, and the lull of enticing music mesmerizing the crowds, a thunderstorm of giant proportions is brewing in the wings. Someone dashes in with a ripped jacket hem distressed beyond means this has happened at such an important moment. Two staples later and a covering of black Sharpie ensure the future of the world doesn't hang in the balance due to a fashion disaster.

As the printer awakes growling and beeping incessantly to be fed a breakfast of A3 and A4 paper, the server refuses to open its eyes to the new day. Maybe the overload of new knowledge objects dropped in its lap last night has taken its toll.

Two people enter stressing over the absence of an important dignitary, while another enters asking for antacid tablets. A forth enters searching for a pen and a place to sit. The carefully placed stacks of information prepared for the session have suddenly become smothered in coffee cups, folders, cell phones, and laptops.

A last minute review uncovers a catastrophic flaw in the writing and everything has to be scrapped. The tension in the air crackles like thunderbolts. Seeing the potential for a deluge, the keeper of the crypt takes a deep breath and smiles. As the new assignments find their way off the now sated printer, a calm begins to emerge and day breaks once again.

It's 7am and the world's secrets have started to unfold not on the main stage, but between the walls of the backstage crypt. Its eyes and ears are witness to the true workings of peace, and I am the keeper of the crypt.

It's the Little Things

January 2nd...hard to believe we are into the New Year already. Even harder to believe that I have to pack all the Christmas stuff up for another year...seems like I just finished getting it all done!

Last night I was running around in a pink burkha in a field that had been converted into a Jewish synagogue. I was sitting on a pew looking at an old address book and the guy in front of me was turned around and trying to read what I had written in it. The addresses were all written in cursive, in pencil, and none of the writing was straight. Then I woke up. Yep, another night and yet another weird dream.

I had to make the trek to my local grocery store today because I needed a few items which ended up being five paper bags of stuff and totaling over $200. I sure am glad I didn't need a lot of things! I love to cook but I really don't like to grocery shop at all. The only saving grace for me are the antics of an elderly gentleman who bags groceries at my grocery store of choice. 

For Thanksgiving he wore a turkey hat. By turkey hat, I don't mean a baseball cap with a turkey emblem on the front, I mean he had a felt stuffed turkey on his head. I didn't think it could get any better until I did my Christmas shopping and was greeted by a 15 inch felt Christmas tree complete with a working set of lights perched atop his head.

Today was dreary and wet and going to the store was not something I was really looking forward to doing. However, the entire experience was worth it when I was greeted by this gentleman who was wearing a pair of suspenders that were 2 inches wide, bright yellow, and were made to look like a tape measure. Not only that, his hat completely summed up how I felt about the whole shopping experience...it simply said, "Whatever". Due in part to the simple act of getting dressed that this gentleman performs every day, he may single handedly change my mind about enjoying grocery shopping. 

It's the little things that count.

Robin Sue