Cajucom: Solitaire

Only in quiet waters do thing mirror
themselves undistorted.
Only in a quiet mind
is adequate perception of the world.

- Hans Margolius

WHAT WOULD it feel like being 86 years old, and the world around you in total silence?

Our Lolo Pedring turned 86 yesterday, the 28th of July. He lost his sense of hearing in the early 1980s due to a problem in medication, but never failed to think positive about the world around him.

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His day begins with his favorite breakfast of bread and peanut butter or bread and strawberry jam, and a cup of steaming hot coffee. He lifts his head and never fails to smile so sweetly at anyone who passes by and pats him in the back as he enjoys his breakfast. He reads all that he wants to read, watches tv (usually sports or news) and sleeps as long as he wants. I have a feeling he should be the most content 86-year-old in the world, or could probably qualify for being one of the most content people in the world. Or maybe not. I see him everyday, usually at twilight, content in the corner of the patio playing a never-ending game of solitaire. He would play a game or two, and realizing this for the first time in weeks, I think he always "wins" the game. He would stop after a couple of sets, stare at us talking and (more often than not) laughing revelling about our days, or watch the kids breeze by as though he could actually hear their laughter and shrieks.

There are times when I do wish for silence, tired of all the hum and buzz of everyday life, work, school and people. I look at Lolo Pedring and wonder, will I be in the same state of peacefulness and bliss as him if I could not hear a thing? Come to think of it, though, I have a feeling there is no silence in Lolo's mind, as he is always brimming with great ideas. But for him there seems to be no trouble on earth and no reason for worry, and sometimes I am calmed just by being near him, as he evokes so much positive energy.

But there are times when his eyes suddenly get misty, or he seems to be too deep in thought. I think he misses Lola Leonor terribly (she died in 2005, after 55 years of marriage and togetherness), I think he misses his kids and grandkids, majority of whom are in the U.S., and although he brings such sunshine to our lives just by his mere sweet smile I think life with solitaire everyday tends to boring at times. But he never complains, and he never whines, and when I myself am troubled by things whether big or small I try to regain my chí by thinking about Lolo Pedring's positive outlook and attitude.

Happy birthday, Lolo.

(serendipity.couch@gmail.com)