George

the old man looked at me with one eye closed

"you can't and won't ever figure out the Lord's way of thinkin"

i agreed with him 

 he took a swig of the bottled water I had given him

we sat for a few minutes by the side of the road watching cars speed by

his name is George

he picks up cans along hwy 6 once a week

he uses the money for food and beer

we have been in Oxford for 9 years,

 George was here long before that

i don't stop often enough to say hello 

 he is always talking when he walks the roadside

i asked him once who he was talking to

"the Almighty!"

i felt pretty dumb for asking

people think he is crazy

i think we are all a bit crazy

he tells me i would be surprised how much money he makes in an afternoon

"and dang if i don't make this old road look better!"

as I ride away on my bike he goes back to picking up cans,

and talking to the Almighty.

 

wkm