It’s the fourth of July, yet my mind is far away from a holiday. I was out in the city earlier today when a stranger came up to me and said something I’ve heard for the umpteenth time in my life, which is that I “think too much.”
A moment later, he also told me that I probably “talk too much” as well. I smiled politely and told him he was right; it turns out the man was there to tell me my fortune, that is, for just a small donation.
We were in the parking lot of a small store as I waited for mom to get back from her errand. I glanced at the stranger again, and saw a kind face in him more than anything else. Figuring that mom would be just a bit longer, I nodded to the man in affirmation of his wager. He proceeded to ask me a few questions about my life, including questions about my family, whether or not I had a partner, and what my number one wish was at the moment.
It was the last hour of the morning before the afternoon, and as the sun rose above, so did the heat. Still, we were both humble in front of one another as the game between us spiraled us away from ourselves, or at least, from too much attention to one another.
The man told me that I’d live a long life, and that while I wouldn’t have much material wealth, I would have much respect in my life. He also told me that I would live a healthy life, and that I just had to let go of a few old habits to ensure it.
I laughed and appreciated his words; they were refreshing to hear, and whether or not there was full truth in them didn’t matter, they’d hit just the right notes at an opportune time either way.
After another trick of the hand or so, the fortune teller assured me that he could pray for me in this fortune with the help of just another small donation. I smiled and laughed in kind, but informed him that I’d given him all I had. I was a humble man after all, I reminded him.
The man pressed on with his offer, but without even the slightest about-face, still kindly. I smiled again, this time letting him know that I was out of time to spare, too. The fortune teller finally relented, and we made for our separate ways. But just before completely losing sight of him, I asked the fortune teller for his name. He said his name was Lucky Baba.
Immediately afterwards I thought of how there are people out there who’d pay him far more than I ever could for his kind words in that moment.
He was in the parking lot outside the store with humble people like himself, after all, rather than with L.A.’s more fortunate patrons, somewhere in Beverly or Hidden Hills. He was really bright, after all, with an ability to tell a story holding the weight of the world in ways many people out there already pay fortunes to listen to.
It also seemed Lucky Baba was a family man, and that he wasn’t in his trade just for himself, but for his loved ones somewhere out there. All he needed was his own fortune from one of these encounters, to strike his own lucky payday for him and all of his dreams.
So here’s to Lucky Baba pressing on in his way, then, not so much in a hurry but with his warm patience, to meet a great payday for himself and his family one of these days; and here’s to a lucky strike for all of us, rushing madly towards our destinations as well. We’ve still got to get to them, after all, for which all our close calls beforehand make them only more rewarding.
With warmth from Los Angeles,
J.T.