local eccentric

I think I am well on my way to becoming the kook that the kids in the neighborhood laugh about. First sign: my bike has arrived and as of Friday (my next payday) I'll be cruising around Brandon on my cruiser. Not so kooky, perhaps, but I haven't seen any other 35 year olds riding one around town.

Second sign: I carried my sunbrella with me to the Earth Day celebrations on Saturday. Then to Stream 'n Wood to test drive my bicyclette. Then to my sister's house for dinner. My sunbrella is a candy pink, green, cream and grey umbrella that I use as shade when I'm out in the sun. A glorified parasol, I guess, that I started using last summer. I did see people with them at the Forks in Winnipeg, but I haven't seen anyone else in Brandon. I decided to start using it as a way of reducing my sunscreen use. I'm pretty darn pale and have been slathering on protection for many years. I've been using mostly organic and natural skin care products for about 6 years, but I've been unable to find a natural sunscreen that I like. Both my mom and grandmother have had skin cancer, so I'm pretty committed to my portable shade. However.... on the way home, some kids started yelling at me, "Why are you carrying an umbrella?" That's "sunbrella" sonny.

Third sign: I pick up garbage. On the way to and from work, I collect recyclables that others have carelessly tossed on the ground and I deposit them in the approriate receptacles. I also just pick up garbage where ever I go. This trait I come by honestly... I learned it from my mom. We used to do this all the time as kids. One of our favorite activities (and I'm not making this up) on the drive to my grandparent's house in Souris was to have my dad slowly drive along the shoulder of the highway while my brother, my sister and I combed the ditches for empty beer bottles. This was back in the day when "one for the road" was an acceptable thing to say so we usually got quite a haul. The reason it was a favourite activity was because we also got the money from cashing them in.

I think these are some good first steps toward attaining kook status. In a big city, I might blend in more, but not so much in Brandon. I have to admit, part of me would like to be the local crackpot. Most of the time though, I have to talk myself into these things. I'm so conditioned to behave like everyone else that it's hard to go out on even a small limb. If I had the chance to explain my actions, I'd feel better. Who could argue with having fun, getting exercise, protecting my health and keeping the city looking nice?