Pack Creek Ranch, San Juan County, Utah
Spring weather prevails – clear, warm, and green.
Bears out of hibernation, hummingbirds returned early.
Tourists abound.
OPPORTUNITY
Two active thoughts in my mental notebook are these:
“Every situation contains opportunities.”
“Opportunity knocks, but it doesn’t nag.”
Those two ideas are on my mind whenever I drive into town.
Here’s a story:
Though it is a very small town, Moab has a bus service.
Moab Area Transport. Compliments of the local government.
Small buses. Free service, no standard routes, available on call.
Busy in tourist season – often empty during the off-season.
An opportunity.
Two elderly friends who regularly walked together waved down the MAT one cold winter day and simply asked for a ride around town. The driver complied. And away they went.
And thus, the GOMAT Men’s Fraternity was born.
(Referred to by their wives as the Old Goats Lost and Found)
Every Wednesday in the off-season, the Fraternity gathers in the parking lot at the Visitor’s Center for a bus ride. They are dropped off at Woody’s Tavern at journey’s end. There are 9 members now – all retired and age-impaired. Still, their minds are active, and they still take advantage of an opportunity when they see one.
Rumor has it that there is a friendly poker game going on at the back of the bus – not for cash, just friendly fun.
Over time, considerations have been agreed upon. Not rules – considerations that keep the ride going well.
For example:
Cell phones, tobacco, drugs, pets, booze, and concubines are not usually welcome aboard. Discussion of personal medical issues are best conducted at a doctor’s office, not on the bus. Lighting of farts inside the bus is dangerous. Dress code is covered by two words: clean and comfortable. Favorite footwear – house slippers encouraged. 65 years old – or at least look like you could be. The number of members is set at 9 so that there will always be an empty seat on the 11-seat bus, in case the Fraternity sees someone who needs to be picked up.
Religion – must subscribe to a belief in Binary Murphy’s Law – that for the same reason that everything that can go wrong will, it is also true that there are days when everything can go right will and just as often does.
Motto of the GOMAT is Carpe Diem – Seize The Day.
Each week a Grand Master of the next ride is elected.
He sets the agenda for the next excursion.
Recently, the most popular executive called upon the members to bring their best dirty jokes next time.
He was elected twice.
Another memorable agenda was the telling of each member’s best stories – no lies – just harmless untruths.
Is all this real? Most of it. Moab is real. The buses are real.
The Visitor’s Center and Woody’s Tavern are real. The old men are real.
And, above all – above all – the opportunity is real.
But is the story true?
It could be.
It should be.
It may yet be.
Imagine that.
“Every situation contains opportunities.”
“Opportunity knocks, but it doesn’t nag.”