When life rains on your parade….
Downtown San Francisco on a monday morning.
People are getting their coffees, crossing the streets, talking on the phone and are constantly on the move, going somewhere (to work).
Outside the Montgomery station, on Market street, stands a man, dressed to the nines, everyday. With a clean suit and a gentleman’s hat, he stands near his stall and beckons customers.
He is a black man.
His profession is that of polishing shoes.
He does it with the utmost dignity and self respect that I have ever seen.
I admire this man.
Although I have never talked to him, but only exchanged smiles during my smoke-breaks nearby, I have always wanted to know him more.
Downtown also has plenty of beggars and moochers.
They’re not handicapped or old.
They’re fit enough to do any kind of work, but they choose not to.
They choose to stand outside the Mc-Ds begging for change, smokes, and anything you’d spare.
Our protagonist chooses to earn an honest dollar instead.
On this monday morning, it was drizzling.
I noticed that his stall was covered up and he was missing. I figured, “I guess nobody wants their shoes shined since it’s raining and muddy, so he probably took the day off”. I felt a little sorry for him, realizing that he would not earn any money today.
I was wrong.
I soon spotted him at a nearby corner.
He was selling Umbrellas for $3 a piece. Business was brisk in the drizzle.
To quote an oft used phrase, He was making hay while the sun shines (or while it doesn’t).
When life gave him lemons, he made lemonade and was selling it at the corner stand.
When life rained on his parade, he was dancing in that rain.
I admire this man.
I smiled to myself and walked back into the office.
