In the course of a typical day I am thrilled when serendipity occurs. Yesterday I was driving west on Cedar Road when I noticed someone holding a camera standing in the grass across the street from my office. I quickly looked to this gentleman’s left when I spotted a calico pony tied to a fence attired like Bullseye from Toy Story. I smiled a little because the photographer was fully engaged in checking the light and set up for what looked like a significant child’s photo shoot. The pony was too diminutive to be the steed of a grown adult however that thought crossed my mind and I chuckled at the social media possibilities of a grown man astride the tiny horse. But what really struck me was the contrast of a child’s perspective and the adult’s perspective.
From my point of view, I could only see the out of place uniqueness of Bullseye being across the street for a photo shoot. What must that horse be thinking? Something like, really you want me to wear this vest? The photographer was in his forties bespectacled and seemingly quite earnest about the upcoming session. He was patiently waiting for someone; I assume a demanding child because I assume all children are petulant demanding divas. He was fully engaged for the long haul. I can only speculate that this was not this gentleman’s goal when he took up the camera as a profession. He was probably hoping for a whirlwind of supermodels and elaborate sets with multiple assistants handing him various cameras to get the right shot. He would have adopted a single name like Rocco and say high minded things like, “this will not work” or “that eye shadow wont due!” The child was not in sight so this menagerie was prepared for what may have been a thankful yet reluctant “star” but I could not gather evidence to shake my assumption.
Regardless, the child was going to be thrilled to sit atop the pony obviously the center of attention. He would be oblivious to Rocco’s professional demise. Whatever course of events led Rocco to be conducting a photo shoot with the fake Bullseye and the child star it was serendipity to me. I whispered, “Ride like the wind Bullseye” and kept driving.
Albert R. Hartley