Yesterday I went to the bank on my way home from work. I discovered there's a bank branch between my house and the tram, so I gave that a try. (I "came off" my bike a few weeks ago and have been tramming it while I recover.) The bank is in the entry of a giant hospital, and a tiny little place. I walked in, there were 2 tellers (one woman one man) at the tiny counter, and 3 other bank guys talking intensely to each other. The male teller smiled at me while the lady ignored me, so I obviously I went to his side of the counter. Cranky bank teller is not what I need last thing on a Friday of 12 hour work days.
As this 6'3, fit and healthy looking, 30ish year old, red hair and freckles, fresh faced, and married guy is doing the paperwork to deposit my check, he asked me what I had on for the weekend. This is typical casual conversation. I said not much, probably relaxing, might work a bit. Then there was the predictable lull... for some reason I feel a bit intrusive asking a person this question back, even though they just asked me the same thing. So this time I made myself ask, "What do you have on for the weekend?"
His face immediately was suffused with joy - he literally transformed before my eyes from friendly bank teller to some kind of angelic being.
I was thinking, "Perhaps his wife is giving birth to their first child?"
"I am going to sit on the couch and watch The Cricket Match all day on Saturday," he said. (Yes, I could hear the capital letters. And fortunately, I watch enough TV to understand that Australia is in the cricket world cup and this is A BIG DEAL. At least I think that's what he was referring to...)
"I thought it took more than one day for a cricket match," I said (feeling pleased that I knew this one small fact).
"Well, that's a different kind of cricket," he effused, "I could talk to you about this for hours, but I'll just say that this is the kind of cricket where a match just lasts one day."
"Huh."
"Watching cricket is my favourite thing. I could watch it for days. Once I took a week off of work just so I could watch the cricket. I spent the whole week on my couch, I ate what they ate, took breaks when they took breaks - it was the best vacation of my life."
I'm just going to give you time, dear reader, to let that sink in. The vacation, and his level of joy in said vacation.
Inconceivable and delightful to me. Without doubt, he was the happiest person I saw all week.
I am so glad I asked the question back. I'm still smiling from his spilled over joy today.
Perhaps I'll turn on The Cricket.
