Disappearing Act

I am not sure exactly when it happened. I didn't feel myself fading away; it felt more like I was fading into the background. In front of me were an animal and an object - Charlie, my rather large, beautiful, and almost impossible to ignore dog and my Piaggio MP3 3 wheeled motorcycle. While I am willing to admit that humans are biologically primed to notice differences in the environment, the harsh reality of fading to black to serve as an information giver can be disconcerting.

What kind of dog is that? Wow, he's big. Never saw a motorcycle with three wheels. Does it stand up by itself? Is he part Dane? Does he bite? It looks neat; who makes it? In this world of noticeable differences, what is noticed is either my hand (only) attached to the leash or my leg visible on the side of the bike.

He's a Shepherd Rottweiler mix. Yes he is. Yeah, three wheels is unusual. It does stand up by itself until I release the controls. Then it drives like a motorcycle, and yes I can lean into curves. No, he has no Great Dane in him. (Can't prove it but I doubt it.) No he doesn't bite. (My internal response is much longer. What the hell would make you think I would let a 131 pound dog who is taller than your child near him if he was a biter?)

I guess having something different doesn't equate to being something different. True story. On a warm day last summer, a waitress from the Chart House in Old Town, Alexandria came walking all the way across the pier to bring Charlie a glass of ice water with the attending comment "Your dog looked thirsty." She and the other staff could see that from several hundred feet away and thank their dog loving souls, they responded.

Being totally invisible by this point it might have been nice to hear, "Oh, how about you sir. Are you thirsty too? Hungry? Could we bring you a shrimp cocktail or bloody mary? But no treats, petting, or butt rubs for me. (Only true dog aficionados know what a "butt rub" is.) No questions on how much I eat or how old I am. No concern for whether or not I will get any taller.

As for the bike, it attracts a lot of attention from older guys who've never had a motorcycle but who have dreamed of owning one. They aren't capable of being "hard core" bikers" and neither am I but there is some thrill to riding down the street, with the air rushing past you….oh, I almost forgot this isn't about me. Let them use the bike to stimulate their dreams.

And to tell you the truth, standing in the background enjoying every time Charlie makes someone smile isn't about me either. Whether they are young or old he wakes them up to the world of differences and I guess it really doesn't matter if they see me smiling in the background.

Yes, three gallons of premium, please.

I'm behind the curtain, Charlie. Get out there; this day is yours.