Today is Christmas eve here in Oz. I started the day with a split shift at the grand ole roadhouse. Unlike past Christmas', it was just another day. I made the whole season without hearing a Christmas song, seeing a tree or decorations. I was proud of that until today, when I remembered who I was.
A guy in a wheel chair came in looking for a room. We weren't suppose to sell any rooms, since we're closed tomorrow, but I talked my boss into it. It's Christmas and he's in a wheel chair, right? Then something great happened. A random guy came up and bought said wheel chair guy a room and steak dinner.
I know what you're thinking, it's a mini-Christmas miracle. Well the wheel chair guy was kind of dick. I shrugged it off because I'm a dick and a I have two legs.
I did his laundry in our pay machines. He complained and I complained. I thought his point about not wanting to pay the three dollars for the dryer was asinine; I summed him up by the newer car he drove. His clothes cleaned, I passed them off with a sigh of relief.
Later that night I saw the guy getting his wet clothes off the railing and offered him a smoke. Turns out we are both merchant mariners. He lost his legs in the line of work. Something I could of done a million times with my dumb ass bosses. We had a great talk about life and how travel makes you a better person.
While it's not a Christmas miracle. It was something I needed. Every time I want to give up and go home, something like that happens.
This is why I travel.
*Side note. My bosses daughter asked me if we celebrated Christmas in the U.S. I laughed and said, 'more than you will ever know'.
I would like to salute
the ashes of American flags
And all the fallen leaves
filling up shopping bags
the ashes of American flags
And all the fallen leaves
filling up shopping bags