FUTURE YOU, FUTURE ME, UH HUH, WHICH ONE IS GOING TO BE

Will future you be alone in the world, walking the same path until the end of days? Future me says, “I hope not.”

I’ve got a habit of watching people when they don’t know I’m watching. I especially like watching people who remind me of a different time.

I saw the man in the brown jacket in Paris, walking the road toward the army hospital and Napoleon’s tomb, and away from the golden Pont Alexandre III bridge.

Was he a writer, a thinker, another old guy lost in time? Or just out for a walk? Either way, he looked iconic.

To me he was the soul of an aging civilization, still moving, still good posture, but sad. At least he looked sad.

I’d just seen the Invalides and Eiffel Tower and was headed toward the bridge all fired up at the new feelings of being surrounded by so much beauty. The old guy brought me back to earth.

He looked like a regular on his regular walk, taking note or not, of everything familiar to the point of boring. Walking alone, I understood, but not in Paris, which made me think he was a local yokel.

Future You In Paris Alone?

Paris is a busy city, so even if you’re there alone, you’re not alone. Go ahead and find a quiet place. Let me know where it is, because it’s not in any church, museum, or restaurant.

I checked the churches, museums, and restaurants, because that’s why I was in Paris. Isn’t that why anyone goes to Paris?

Lucky for me, I wasn’t alone. Far from alone, I was part of a Rick Steves’ Tour. I say lucky because of the group, a surprising group. If I had to pick strangers to spend time with, I’d pick myself.

Rick Steves brought strangers together with a common goal: Paris. And it was so much fun I still can’t believe it when I say how great it was. I’m not a tour guy, maybe you’re not either, but a Rick Steves tour is no ordinary experience.

What I am is a history guy, and Paris reminded me of the art history classes, European history classes, military history classes. Getting reminded of my WWII history classes was pretty bracing while I walked around.

I was never alone in Paris, since I went with my wife, so I pretended I was alone to tap into the lonely guy vibe. I had a constant reminder that I wasn’t alone in Paris, and to stop embarrassing myself.

Being an embarrassment is nothing new, especially when I don’t register why things seem embarrassing to others and not me.

Future Me: “OOOOO”

For example: the tour group gathered for a river cruise on the Seine. It was a chance to see Paris through a different lens. Since so may bridges crossed the river, it was also a chance to see if yelling the Oregon Ducks “OOOOOO” would echo in France the way it does in Oregon.

The Oregon Brewers Festival is the best example outside of Autzen Stadium to yell the “OOOOOO” with a crowd.

Now we can add Paris to the list because my test “OOOOOOO” sounded so good that a few passengers joined in the first time, more the second, about half the boat for the third, and more and more under each bridge. It was pretty great.

About the only person who didn’t think it was so great probably pretended she was alone in Paris, and not sitting next to a compulsive howler.

If future you is alone and feeling deserted during a period of isolation in your life, embrace it. At least your not next to the choir leader who only sings one song with one note.

Hey Paris, “OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.”

“Do you have to yell under every bridge?”

“Honey, I don’t know OOOOOOOOOOOOOO.”

“You think you’re so funny.”

“Hey, they loved Jerry Lewis here.”