Thursday, 09 July 2009

• Just Because You Can

  You know, being able to do something doesn't mean it should be done. I don't think my father should have been cleared for his quadruple by pass operation five years ago. My sister who was a nurse and has many friends in the medical field pulled every string, and cashed in every favour to get him that operation.

  It added a few years to his life, this is the truth, but he has been a grouchy pain in the ass ever since. He has basically driven his children and grandchildren away from him, not just me and mine either. Maybe my mum is happy about it, maybe she is glad he had the operation but none of the rest of us are. Not even my sister who got it done.

  When I worked at camp I had a favorite campsite that I went to on my days off.It was called 4th Lookout and there was a very old shelter there. It had been built of logs way back around the turn of the century and it was great to sleep there and get out of the wind and rain. I spent many happy hours there with my girlfriends , away from the kids and the noise , just enjoying each other.

  Two years after my last summer there I went up to visit some friends. While I was there I went up to 4th Lookout to relive some very happy memories. the shelter had been torn down and burned, I could see the last of the logs in the camp fireplace. I was outraged and then I was just sad.

  I went back to camp and asked about it. I was told that one of the counsellors had spent his day off there and had pulled it apart and burned it rather than go collect firewood.He said he was amazed at how easily it came down once he got started. My friend told me everyone had given him shit for it but the damage was done.I'm told the idiot finally said " I shouldn't have done that."

  But he HAD done it, just because he could.

  These examples are pretty far apart in the broad spectrum of life but you get my point. At least I hope you do.On the other end of the spectrum are plenty of examples of things that SHOULD be done just because you can.

  I went to the bank today. I held the door for a young mum with a little girl around 4 years old. I said "there's a pretty girl right there!" The mother beamed and so did the little girl. Why did I do it? I didn't know them.Why did I make them smile?

  Because I could.

  Inside the bank I asked Sandy how things were going and I pretended to be interested while she told me all about her loser husband and why he isn't a loser. I feigned agreement and she looked considerably happier when I left.There aren't many people who listen to Sandy any more. It made her day that I did. Why did I make her day?

  Because I could.

  One day I hope to make an enterprising young man a bit richer. I plan on lining his pockets with a few bucks that he might not have made otherwise. Why did I put a bounty on the head of the idiot who destroyed 4th Lookout?

  Because I could.

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