So there’s this man at work!
He can dance!
His name’s Abdi!
I saw him on the way out of work the other day.
We often greet one another, though we work in different departments of the same company. Our paths cross like that all the time, one or the other of us is on his way in or out of work.
Flashback: I was waiting for some of my supplies to arrive one day, and he had come walking by my work station on his way home. I have a separate work space, and so I am able to enjoy my music, pumped through a Sony Speaker via Bluetooth, and the song “Bang a Gong” T-Rex was playing. He came right up to my window and leaned in, and began moving and jiving… clearly enjoying the music and lost in it’s rhythm and beats! I hardly know the man! And I was moved by the child like freedom he had… it was like an invitation to get closer! “Hey! Be my friend!”
So, we each paused to make sure he could dig the song up to listen to via his favourite streaming service…
So this other day a smile has lit up both our faces!
“How are you!” he says
“Well I don’t have a Pittsburg Pirates hat (he was wearing one)
I can’t dance …
but I’m doing ok considering…
my name’s not even Abdi!
I shuddered! What if… I’m 62… and my memory isn’t great, and like I said he’s one of many that I smile and wave at… his name SHOULD be Abdi if it isn’t!
I’ve never thought of his age before, which is a topic for another time, but I think he might be around 30
And I’ve made a habit not talking about what differentiates us from one another. Ideally I’ll talk about what YOU wanna talk about! If you’re riding a Yellow motorized Banana, wearing a beanie with a propeller on top.
I’ll not say, “hey! What’s with the hat?!?”
But, Maybe he saw the angst in my face, cuz…
“Hey!” He says! “You said that perfect! The exact perfect accent!”
“You taught me !” I says
I wondered, for the first time, where he was from, we’re all from SOMEWHERE, but now he’s opened a door, he’s differentiated… ‘an accent’ some one has is being mentioned!
“Where are you from ?” I ventured!
“Somalia” he says!
Now don’t judge me! I couldn’t help it! My brain immediately played the tape!
Again! My perceptive acquaintance must have read my face. I asked permission, he nodded
He saw the look on my face … and he and I gave me permission…
He had just entered the elevator, and was holding the door back from closing. I crouched down as though sitting on the back seat of a zodiac, and reached behind me as though holding the throttle of an outboard motor and making an engine sound… I flexed my knees up and down as if motor boating on the high seas!
He laughed and this what he did!
I cheered! Asked if he could
HOLD THAT!!
As I took a picture!
He did!
He changed the narrative forever in my head!
Growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, I’d had around me, like many places in Canada all creeds, colours and the differentiated. My parents celebrated and honoured them all. I didn’t know it wasn’t ok to be different!
I’ll wait here while you catch up.
I said, it’s something about the way I was raised. My folks. We’re not all the same.
At some point, after a new crowd has been getting to know me, someone will pull me aside, and say, “you’re not like other people.” As if the goal is for us all to be the same?
But let’s get back to this man. He’s injected joy into my life! By being Abdi!
Now when I see the news of piracy on the high seas, near Somalia, I’ll think of the juxtaposition of Abdi!
When someone invites me to know, that THEY are from Somalia, I’ll crouch down as though… NO!!! I’ll wait to mention my good friend Abdi! For I hope indeed that he will become my good friend!
And now when “Bang a Gong” comes along on my playlist I’ll look around, and Bob and weave my head around (as if I can dance) and to see my friend again sometime soon.
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That movie:
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Running Down Vimy 