Walks
& Talks like a Duck…Must be a Duck!
©Allen Merritt (2016)
Every once in a while a fun and/or
uplifting incident occurs that is worth sharing, if for any reason because it
is fun! Today I want to share a story about an experience I recently had which
gives thought about how we interpret or view things in the world.
Ever heard the phrase, “If it was a
snake it would have bit you?” OR “It was right under your nose the entire
time!” These statements give way to my thoughts regarding this story.
Here
goes:
I stopped at a favorite grocery
store to pick up a couple of items before heading home for the evening. Nothing
unusual was taking place. I simply wandered into the store, made a few
selections and made my way to the cashier.
After placing two items on the
conveyor belt and noticing someone behind me, I placed one of those “divider
sticks” that separate one customers items from another’s to make it easy for
the cashier to know when one order stops and another begins.
I looked up at the person behind me
and felt as if I knew the person. They looked familiar to me.
I stood there thinking about it and
realized how much that person reminded me of Donny Osmond. That’s right, Donny
Osmond. I grew up listening to the Osmond music and have periodically kept up
with his career along the way even to the point of seeing his residency show in
Las Vegas. Anyway, after I told myself this I discarded the thought as being
nothing more than a fallacy. You know how sometimes you see a person who looks
like someone you know or who resembles another individual; then after a closer
look you discover they were not that person at all? This is exactly what I was
thinking.
A second later the cashier rung me
up and I told the bagger I did not need a bag. After which, the bag lady spoke
up and said, “Your beard is really cool.” I immediately thanked her. The next
thing I remember is that person behind me saying, “I wish I could grow one like
that.” I was thankful and smiled then moved out of the way and headed out of
the store. The man behind me followed me out and ended up getting in a vehicle
parked near to me. I drove off and the man was behind me for a bit and then
pulled up passing me on my left-hand side. I was curious as to what his license
plate said. Sure enough, it was a Utah plate. It was Donny Osmond. It must have
been. Why hadn’t I believed it before? After a bit of thought, I decided it was
because his hair was lighter than I remembered.
Now, here’s the clincher. The next
day I was getting a coffee and noticed a copy of the newspaper from the
previous day and guess whose picture was on the front page of a certain
section? It was Donny and Marie Osmond. I looked closer and clearly saw it was
the same man behind me in the grocery store.
What is prevalent to me about this
story is that sometimes we tell ourselves things are not what they appear to be
when in fact they really are. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, then
it must be a duck, right? It brings to question are we facing reality at all
times? If it is staring us in the face, why can’t we see it and accept it for
what it is (whatever “it” may be)?
Moreover, I have observed people who
despite any facts and/or evidence presented before them which proves them wrong
still insist they are right. In other words, they continue to make every effort
to make everyone else seem crazy despite the fact they were caught red handed. Are
they slightly delusional? Do they really think it will help them save face? I’m
sure there are many reasons why human beings cannot accept or embrace truths.
However, the positive lesson I gain from this experience gives pause to the
idea of taking a closer look at the world around us. Some truths are evident
and unobstructed from view. Other truths are clouded by manipulations. The key
here is discovering which is which and discern or accept accordingly. It
definitely gives something more to think about.
For what it’s worth, I ‘kinda sorta’ met Donny Osmond at the
grocery store the other day and it quickly became a story to tell. After all,
it isn’t every day you have that kind of experience. I hope you enjoyed it and
take something meaningful from the comparisons made.
Here's a link you can copy and paste into URL. It's from 1972:
Have a good week and enjoy living life On a Positive
Note!
Cheers!
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