This
is about two guys named Bill.
I
think.
They
might not both be named Bill. I’m new to the neighborhood. And
while I like to think I have a good memory, I’m not certain the
introductions have been made as cleanly as they possibly could
have been. In fact, I think my girlfriend is convinced there is
only one Bill. (Maybe I should back up.)
A
few weeks ago, I was out walking the dogs and a neighbor said
hello. Being fairly new to the area, it was the first time I had
met him. Didn’t really have a chance to say much. Just a quick,
friendly wave and a couple of words as we passed. I asked Karen
about the guy with a car cover on his Corvette and what seemed
to be a car cover on the ground in the parking space next to it.
“That
was Bill,” she responded.
Ok.
So, Bill.
Bill
number one.
About
a week later there was a knock on the door. Someone that sure
looked like a different man was there when I opened it.
“Hi.
Wanted to tell you I’m going to be setting up some stuff to watch
the eclipse tomorrow and invite you over if you’re interested.”
Really
friendly gesture on his part, and I expressed my appreciation
for his offer. Unfortunately, I was going to be travelling and
unable to accept. I then got a few minutes of details about how
exciting the whole thing was going to be.
A
couple of hours later I saw Karen and mentioned the visitor. She
laughed.
“Yup.
That’s Bill.”
Ok.
But, Bill number one? Bill number two?
I
thought it was a different guy. But I am the newbie here. So,
maybe I just didn’t really get a good look during the first encounter.
Fair enough.
We’ll
say it’s me.
We’ll
say one Bill.
Out
this morning, getting the mail, and I passed a different guy.
Looked kind of like the first man I remembered, but nothing like
the second. And when I said good morning, he even responded with
the exact same greeting the first had used about two weeks ago.
So,
now I’m wondering. Could there be two Bills? Did Karen mean there
was one? Or, did she mean two? Was she wrong about one of them?
And
to be completely open about the whole situation, I’m having a
bit more fun with the confusion. I almost don’t want to know the
actual answer. Let there be one or two. I’m thrilled with the
neighborhood and enjoying talking to the folks.
Now,
sure, if Good Morning Bill was coming over for lunch one day,
or giving me a ride to a shop, I’d want to know. If Eclipse Bill
and I saw each other again and had a long conversation about the
Orionid meteor shower, I’d want to know. But right now, as I learn
some of the new surroundings, it’s kind of fun to think it might
be possible everyone around here is named Bill.
Now,
there is a final thought. You may have noticed that “Bill” is
the title of this essay. I did not go with “Bills” and make it
plural. At this moment, as I leave the confusion out there to
create a bit of humor, the mystery remains. Nor do I know if their
names are Bill. One could be Tom. Or Joe. The other could be Timothy.
Heck, I’ve never seen them together, so I suppose one of them
could be Batman. Honestly, nothing is off the table.
I
do know that between the two of them, there was an eclipse worth
watching and he (or they) are having a run of terrific days. I
want to take some of that excitement in and enjoy my days as much
as he or they or anyone else seems to be.
Let’s
hear it for Bill. And, a moment to acknowledge the Bills you greet
in passing during your day. I hope they bring you as many smiles
as they bring me.