There is a homeless guy who hangs out on the corner. I encounter him from time to time in my travels through the corner - "Trump!" I yell in his direction - the two of us share a running gag. Every time we run into each other I yell the presidents name. He in turn yells -"Hitler!" - Both of us get a laugh out of the gesture - "I think your idol is losing it. He has the FBI breathing down his neck about Russia. He also looked like a baboon after the Florida shooting. I don't think your idol is going to make it much longer," he says as we bump fists - For the record, I have never claimed Trump is my idol - I let my homeless friend know it as well - "You are the one who says he's my idol. I certainly never said it. The thing I do like about him is his stance on the economy & especially his views on better trade policies with China. That's what I like about him. He can shove his Twitter account up his ass as far as I am concerned. Larry Bird is my idol, not Donald Trump!" -- "Geez," he says with a grin, "You didn't have to get all bent out of shape about it. You're the one wearing the MAGA hat." (I have never worn a MAGA hat):
We chat about the weather for a minute and then he asks if I am excited about the NCAA tournament in March - "Damn straight I am ready for the tourney to get here. I am hoping KU has a strong showing. They should be okay come tourney time." I watched KU beat the hell out of Oklahoma the other night. It got me revved up - He then inquires - "When is your buddy coming to town? The one you told me won a bunch of money on the Astros." -- "He will be here from March 13-21. I am looking forward to it," I then add - "He is going to get a heaping dose of what I think can happen if there is some cooperation between the two of us. It will be an interesting time for sure." Bute's a business man, but friend first. The two of us have collaborated (sort of) on a few ideas through the years. Nowadays it feels we are reaching an equilibrium - "I don't know for sure. We will find out when he comes to town," I add as I shrug my shoulders.
"Who is that new chick working at Putter's? The Asian one - I saw her the other day when I stopped in to see Jack." Putter's is the corner pub & a sure bet to find my friend when he isn't hanging out on the corner - "I think her name is Liza; or something like that. I will find out for sure when I go in for a beer break in an hour," he then adds - "I know you are all touchy feely on your idols today, but I have to ask you this - 'Did you see what happened to your second idol Steve Wynn?" I remind him again Larry Bird is my idol, not Donald Trump, not Steve Wynn - "Like you said last time we talked. He will be okay with his three billion sitting in the bank. The town will survive," is my answer to his idol talk.
As the light to cross turns to walk I bid my homeless friend goodbye - "He ain't going to make it through the year. I won't call him your idol anymore. Let's just call him your 'guy' instead. But he ain't going to make it through the year. His ass along with all his cronies are going to be out of a job." He says the same thing to me every time I prepare to leave - I give the same answer - "It's the economy stupid. As long as it is healthy and he does what he says he is going to do with China. He's not going nowhere!" - I then look both ways before crossing & carry on with my travels.
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