OPINION

By Jerry Gay

I first saw this scene when I returned to the combination gas station and coffee house to use their outdoor portable bathroom located on the far corner of the lot. Out back, far beyond the eyes of the casual observer, were signs of devastation and unresolved attachments to this retail outlet’s past symbiotic relationship. Once they were like two stars in the sky and everyone thought they fit each other to a “T” but have presently fallen apart. So now playing the new shell game of chance with a corresponding logo outside they can still promote the same great coffee and ice cream inside.

This spectacle is not uncommon in our world of lickety-split love affairs. When we think of all the relationships each of us has that range from lover and friend, landlord and tenant, borrower and creditor, boss and worker, minister and parishioner, politician and citizen we see that the list goes on forever. Many modifications and breakups often happen in each of these categories. In this mortal world we often just throw these dated symbols of past sentimentality to the back of our minds until they finally go away or we are done in from the pain and regret from unfulfilled dreams and promises.

When we reach out and embrace our neighbors we see pictures that enhance everyday life in our own international community.