They had just dimmed the lights. I think this officially marked that it was the moment in the evening separating those who come to eat a dinner meal and those who were there to stay for one or two or several after dinner drinks.
The waitress approaches the crowded table only to find one occupant left and she asks the lone soul if he’d like one more drink.
He politely turns her down acknowledging that he’s only there at this point to enjoy the jazz music. Jazz music as it turn out, is strangely appropriate for this moment.
The slow beat of the drum serves as sort of metaphorical life metronome for him. With each beat and the help of four or was it five beers, a new memory pops into his head helping him recount all the reasons why Waco has been so great these last couple of years.
He can feel the emotion begin to well up. His initial response is to fight it, but then he decides, “no, this is the place for this to happen.” He decides that this is the goodbye. Sure he’ll be in church on Sunday and see the few people he really cares to say goodbye here and there, but this is goodbye to this place.
The Elite Grill is awarded being the crescendo of so many great happenings over the past several years. For him, it is the icon for all that he appreciates about Waco. And so he thinks…
He thinks about all things sad, all things happy, and yet somehow all things good. He thinks about all the people that for the first time in his life have actually been a community that is worthy of the title “community.” He thinks about Baylor. He thinks about his soon to be lonely home (the first he ever bought). He thinks about losing a friend and gaining so many more. He thinks about his first job and the radical decision to walk away from America’s dream to pursue his own and he thinks about this night and how it seems to be a perfect ending to a great chapter.
Feeling a little more like driving, he stands up soaks up the end of this last song…offers applause. But the applause seems to be more than just thank you to the jazz band. It is thank you to all of you and all of this. He turns towards the exit and proceeds.
As he steps outside there is a crisp breeze that reminds him there is more. There is a reason to move on and he is reminded why, though all this is so good he is leaving. The slowly closing door finally closes and the last period of the chapter is finally punctuated.
Jonathon Potter is moving on.
7 comments:
these were great. i think you sell yourself short with your self deprecation. you're a great writer.
and where are the pictures? i've been waiting for them.
my bad i'll edit the post later, but for now I have to go work
i agree with craig. this post was great.
Josh, since I don't know context very well, its hard to feel what you are feeling, but I agree, you are a tremendous writer. These words evoked your emotion for me, and I quickly was taken to place where I experienced this sense of completeness in saying good-bye. Well done you wordsmith. Perhaps we'll author a book together some day. How 'bout it? Something like deep theology rich in story, or something like that?
Oh yeah, and check out my blog for more pictures of my beautiful baby boy. I can't wait for him and Roy to meet. When do our families get together this summer?
Josh, I too think you are a great writer. I felt a little bit like I was watching the last episode of cheers when I read your post. If you and Erik want to write about theology in narritve someday I’m sure you’ll be well versed to do so. Yep you and Don Miller that's what I say.
-Tom
hey im fixed...
Post a Comment