Colorful people:

June 11th....So I bought a brand new sewing machine today at Handcock fabrics. I was alone and in the parking lot walking to my car carrying the big box. the sewing machine was in all by myself.

 

For whatever reason an older gentleman offered to help me.

He started walking towards me and said: "Are you okay? Can I help you with that?"

 

I responded: "No. That's okay. I got it."

Now he was about a foot away from me. I looked into his eyes and I said:

"You know, I do karate still and I'm still pretty strong."

 

He said: "Yes you are. I just wanted to help. That's good you do karate."

 

Then I said: "You and I probably no doubt the same age. How old are you?"

 

He says:

85

I said: "Wow...I'm 68!"

and

as I walked towards my car he added. "Never give up!"

 

:  )

Here’s another story:                                                             June 11, 2015

So I was on my way to the car again, same day, different story, later in the day. My destination was The Artist Way. A night out for me. (It’s a 12 week, every Thursday from 7-8:30PM class) and I decided to say goodbye to Don who was collecting the dues for the three new boys who had just signed up. I finished the hour class with them and the mother was in the office with Don receiving the check for the right amount.

Don said he would handle the business aspect and let me go next door to fix my dinner and change into something nice. The timing was tight so I woofed down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and hurriedly put on the “church” clothes I put out earlier as the Artist Way group is being held at a church group this time.

I thought Don could handle everything but I wanted to give him the courtesy of a quick touch base.

As I opened the kitchen door, I could hear the loud laughter and feel the excitement. As I opened the karate school door, I saw four boys, (the three who just started and were calm and serene and their rebel spirit cousin all age 8 thru 12) whacking the daylights out of one another with the foam pool noodles.

I don’t let kids do this. I don’t like to see out of control kids whacking each other. The noise is loud but it really doesn’t hurt. Years ago if you didn’t keep an eye on the boys they would whack each other  by taking off their white belts and using them as whips.

Oh no. Not on my deck. I yelled: “Stop.”

They kept going laughing and whacking and hitting and yelling.

It was an out of control mess.

I yelled again: “Stop”

The mother yelled: “Marcus, T.J, Damien, Josh…enough.”

Don stepped out of the office and said: “okay boys that’s enough”

Still no reaction:

My turn. “Give me those right now. Stop. Give those.” Finally the first little guy surrendered his noodle and then the next and the next and then I got the last one.

I said calmly: “When I am on the deck, you will not be using this equipment. You will use this in Sensei Barnhart’s class only. Understood? Sensei Barnhart works on the fighting aspects of karate. I will be showing you step by step how to move. Understood”? At this point they had calmed down somewhat. I guess because they were out of breath.

Funny but I was ready to kill Don for allowing that scene in the dojo, the sacred training hall but instead I acted like a team player. I am working on our public image. It is getting better but it’s not easy. You can’t ever change someone’s personality but for sure you can control how you react. That being said, we need a little color on the deck. ‘nuff said!