Friday, July 8, 2011

Green Bananas

My father, who was born in the first third of the 20th century, often jokes that he’s so old, he doesn’t even buy green bananas any more.  I had a similar experience today.  As I handed my Winn-Dixie card to the cashier, she shook her head and said, “Go back and get you your free one”  Excuse me?  She pointed at the sticker on a package of pork chops, “It’s buy one, get one free.”  I said, “I only need one.”  She stared at me in disbelief - was I really going to turn down free meat in these hard economic times?  “But if I’m only here for a month, I can’t eat more than five pork chops in that time.”

“If I’m only here for one month...”  rang in my ears as I walked to my car in the oppressive 96 degree heat.  But it’s true, I don’t know where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing come the beginning of the fall semester.  I was so busy surviving the past year (from being fired without cause to working two full time jobs, one of which involved learning a new trade) I haven’t had much time to think about what’s next.  While in Austria I interviewed for two jobs which depend on the nostrification of my American academic credentials, and since I’ve been back I’ve interviewed for a job in the States which depends on approval of the budget.  One would keep me in Louisiana, the other would involve selling everything I own and moving overseas.  

But right now I’m daintily treading the tightrope of uncertainty between my past and the future.  There’s a green banana peel up ahead.  No matter what happens, it’s sure to be an adventure, right?! 

1 comment:

Kyrie Wynne-Dillon said...

Just don't slip on said peel. The fall is easy enough to recover from, but the teasing will never die. Ever.