A Ride With Bernie

I dropped my car off at the dealership and was told it would take all day to fix, but no need to rent a car...."Bernie would be happy to take you wherever you have to go...he drives the shuttle".

Think about it for a second, how many different souls drift in and out of our lives usually without any recognition. We shake hands or say hello or give a nod and that's it....regardless of how long your encounter was...20 minutes later you'd be hard pressed to pick them out of a police line-up. After all, you are busy, you don't have time for meaningless conversation with a total stranger, you've got stress, things on your mind, things to do, so no time for any nonsense "gibberish" with Bernie the shuttle driver.

Before I go on...let me share a quote I read tonight laying here in my bed...take from it whatever you want, but I hope it makes you stop and think next time before you blow off a guy like Bernie...a man and a father, a husband, and a grandfather who YOU have already pre-judged.

"Death visits everyone regardless of health history, age, gender, ethnicity, or income. Death does not discriminate, nor will it wait for what you consider the right time, it has no if-only’s. Its visits are unconditional and final."

I hopped in the front seat with a big smile on my face and shook his hand. We introduced ourselves and off we went. He was probably in his late 60's, pretty good health, seemed pretty low key. He mentioned that his wife thought he needed to get a job, or a hobby after retiring from C-Dot ten years ago. He said he liked driving people around. I told him he was a good man for doing it. We shared stories like two old boys out on a porch somewhere and then out of the blue he says to me, "you're a lot thinner in real person than you are on TV." He continued, "I saw you sky diving last week, rarely miss an episode....how's Chris Stewart by the way? I sure hope "Andy” can regain his form from last year..."

I cracked up. This guy was the real deal. What a cool dude I had just run into. Two seconds before I got in that van, I had a choice: be quiet, mind my own business, and take my free ride......or engage with Bernie and roll the dice on random conversation.

Bernie turned out to be a saint. One of the coolest cats I've met in a while. He told me he wants to be on the list with the zamboni crew. He'd love a shot at driving the zamboni during hockey games. I told him I'd do my best to check around. I gave him my card, offered him some tickets down the road and we said goodbye.

When I drove off the lot, I thought about what it would be like to have never met Bernie. I could have just sat in the backseat and sent random texts to my fellow fantasy hockey buddies, or played Angry Birds, maybe check Facebook, but I didn't and it paid off.

You never know, I could have been killed on the way home and the conversation I had with Bernie would have been my last.....unconditional and final.

What would Bernie say about me?

It happens every day. In every city, every office, classroom, coffee shop, we are all too busy to remember: life is short, we got one crack at this thing, let's gamble together, and make conversation, compliment each other, lend a buck to a stranger, say thanks to the guy next door.

Life is better only if we make it better.

I'm gonna really try this year....really try.....To put down the iPod, iPad, stop texting and tweeting so much, slow down and actually talk to people. The irony is, I had to tell you in a blog.

Happy new year!
Sent from my iPad (LOL)

 

Comments

[Jill Jurca]

Hey Kyle,
I'll be at the Islanders game this weekend, I'll try to make a point to stop and say hi and help you with your resolution!

[Dollen]

Yeah yeah yeah... what's your twitter? I couldn't find you?

[Kyle Keefe]

I believe the Twitter is thru Altitude? I think...sorry buddy

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