I live in a very neighborhoodly area with lots of children and families, dogs and walkers, and a number of schools. We have an army of crossing guards within a 3 block radius of our house. A crossing guard named Tom always has doggie biscuits for Maggie and other dogs who cross his path. All dogs start wagging the minute they see Tom standing on the corner with his baggie of goodies. Then there is this crossing guard who stands outside the local grade school 2 blocks from my house. I don’t know his name yet, he doesn’t know mine. But we’ve seen each other so often that we might as well be friends. Every day I drive through his intersection as I go back to work after my lunch break. Everyday as I approach his corner, I roll down my window so I can hear the cheerful things he has to say. Never will he let a car go by without a cheerful wave and “you have a nice day!” even if the driver cannot hear him. When the school bell rings at 3pm and the kids start filing out, he says, “Ahh, here comes the gang! Here they are now!” like he never tires of the routine, like he is always so excited to do his job.
Some days he warns me to be careful when making a left onto Eagle Road. “You be careful now, they’re driving like crazies today!” “Hey buddy, I see you every day. You be careful driving, ok?” “Ok, I will!” I reply. “Yes, you be careful, it’s a beautiful day!” he answers.
Let me tell you–never on earth has there lived a cuter old man. I dare you to find someone cuter. He’s got these chipmunk cheeks that glow all rosy when he smiles and says hello. On sunny days he’s got those gigantic bug-eyed sunglasses that fit over top of regular glasses and it is just the cutest. He holds his stop sign with pride, waving it like a flag at a parade. He doesn’t walk–he struts, he bounces, he shuffles. He sings to himself and even dances to his own songs. One day I actually spotted him moondancing–MOONDANCING–up the hill and down again. He had his arms going and everything. I was completely smitten.
One of these days I’ll walk Maggie that way in the morning to see if we can catch him on his corner. He’s seen Maggie in the car with me and of course he said hello to her too. I want an excuse to go ask him his name and maybe take his picture. I think he should make an appearance in a certain opening scene of “Chanda’s House,” even if it is just a little cameo.
I’ve been meaning to tell you about this crossing guard for weeks. Months. And I always forget. He is, by God, the cutest, happiest old man that ever lived. I would not be surprised if he is Santa Claus undercover.
