People can be human too. Well some can anyway.

After my last post, it may appear that I think people are the worst thing to happen to this planet. George Carlin said it best when he declared that humans must really think a lot of themselves if they think that they can destroy the earth with their pollution and greenhouse gasses and global warming and nuclear bombs when the earth has withstood two ice ages and a giant meteor attack. He proclaimed proudly that the Earth wasn't going anywhere -- WE were! Anyway, all that to say that I don't really think the worst in everyone. I haven't canceled my Pessimists Monthly subscription yet, but occasionally find some people quite redeeming.

Usually they come in pairs - one without a clue followed closely by one that seems to have it all figured out. Take this afternoon for instance. I was at the car wash waiting for my "$7 in 7 Minutes" external wash (actually it always takes longer, but for $7 I figure it's not worth pointing out and later finding that "slow leak" in one of my tires). I was sitting in constant observance of my surroundings like I was Jason Bourne and may have to kill a bunch of terrorists trying to get at the $1.23 in my change compartment. Then I saw it -- a brand new Mercedes convertible pulls in and slows down as it approaches the multiple lanes for the different service levels. The driver was what I would call a typical Newport Beach Benz driver - over dressed for this warm afternoon (and all in white - like who does that?) and with that unmistakable facial smoothness revealing a face that has been pulled back a few times so that it now blends perfectly with the leather seats and the canvas convertible top. As she peered over the steering wheel (they never get the seat/steering wheel adjustment right - have you noticed?) I could tell she was quite perplexed about which lane to go in. She clearly had more than the $7 for my favorite line, but being a brand new vehicle (no plates and you could still smell the last of the free gas she got when she drove it out of the showroom), she really did not need the $49 handwash special either. I am pretty sure she was hoping for a lane that was only for "Wheel, Mirror, and Windshield Wash" with the optional satellite radio wipedown. For $4 more they will pet your poodle, which, take it from me, is a LOT cheaper than I usually have to spend to get MY poodle petted. Alas, the joys of wealthy ignorance. I didn't stick around to see how it turned out -- she may still be sitting there.

I left there and stopped at a little restaurant (actually it's a big restaurant but it's the middle of the afternoon and there was only me and this one couple there). Well I got my "salad wrap" - a new hybrid kind of food which combines normally fattening items with some lettuce and sticks it in a big tortilla so you feel like you're eating healthy and you can tell your friends you had a salad, plus hybrids are in now. Making my 4th trip to the water bar (which would not be necessary had I purchased a soda as those glasses are oil drum sized, while the water - which is free, is served in a tiny plastic cup normally reserved for those fun tests at the doctors' office only I didn't have a pen to write my name on the side) well I noticed the (much) older couple sitting off to the side. They were conspicuous as their cute-ability factor was off the charts. They both sat on the same side of the booth, which is normally reserved for guys on their first match.com dates that don't know any better (really guys - you've got be able to make eye contact or you're never going to get to the good kind of contact!) or kids in high school that are hoping to cop a feel when nobody is looking. These guys may be thinking the same thing, who knows? Well they would deserve it. The man is on the outside as the typical protector of his lovely (eye of the beholder kind of thing definitely) bride of many decades. They were both wrapped in heavy outer coats with several layers of suits and stuff underneath. He had a wool hat and she had a nice scarf. It was about 70 or so in the place, so I'm thinking they just had everything they owned on at the moment. I looked for an old brown square leather suitcase nearby, but didn't see it. It would have completed the picture I had based on watching way too many depression era and WWII movies of Europeans on the move. Reluctant travelers from the known to the unknown carrying only their hopes for something better, but content just being together.

I have been searching for that kind of happiness and was about to give up, but now I know I only need to get in my time machine and travel back about seventy years to when times were REALLY bad in order to see that I must be a millionaire of dreams to them. However, that would mean that they actually noticed me, which I doubt as I leave and walk past them in that booth. Sitting there, side-by-side in silent admiration of one another, sipping their soup in unison and occasionally smiling at each other for reasons known only to themselves or better yet - for no reason at all.

Those are good people. I'll take those kind all day.