johnvano.com: The Yoshi of Helen

The following is the first in a short series of reflections on the strangers I met last week while on our "Mountains to Beach" family vacation:

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At the apex of Helen, Georgia and Unicoi State Park sits a grungy convenience store complete with gas pumps, foodstuff, and live bait. On my way to take our kids fishing for the first time, I dropped in for some worms and minnows, stopping outside to take a peek at the crickets. They were in a large wooden box out front and when I lifted the lid, it was like one of the plagues of Moses--hopping, chirping insects, stinking and making me wretch. I went inside and bought some worms, but despite their advertising, they had no minnows.

Later that evening, I stopped in for some milk and overheard a forty-ish, rail-thin local tell the shopkeep about her wedding plans, or rather, her fiance's wedding plans. It seems that he required her to 1) lose weight, 2) stop smoking, and 3) travel to Parakeet Island to get married. The Pakistani-esque clerk offered his sage advice, "Your partner should not ask you to change. What do you want to do?"

When she had left, I plopped down my chocolate milk and soda as he shook his head over the complications of love. He said, "When I get married... again... I am going to tell her, I have flaws and you have flaws. Accept me for who I am, and I will accept you. Life is too short." I agreed that marriage is a commitment between two imperfect people.

Then I asked him if the store was his and I was told that he managed it for a friend (likely the day clerk who was unconcerned about the lack of minnows). He continued, "I never thought about owning. I like to be free. I work and save money, then travel." His last trip was an extended stay in Japan. He's now saving for a trip to Australia and New Zealand. His long hair and contented manner left me with a new and improved impression of this little, grungy outpost.