KAPAI: Zebra-crossing moments teach us about ourselves

Sometimes life serves up a snapshot situation that once downloaded, becomes a freeze-frame, forever filed in the memory under the title "Life's magic moments".
My most recent freeze-frame came while I was approaching the zebra (pedestrian) crossing on Spring St, last Wednesday morning at exactly 11 minutes past 11.
I remember seeing the time clearly on my car clock and being reminded of a lecture by the Dalai Llama many years ago about 11.11 being the time of day when miracles happen. Many times since I have had 11.11 moments one when my little Waiwhakaata Honfleur was born at exactly 11.11. That Mr Llama and his mates were on to something special I reckon.
Anyways back to more recent miracles. As my car approached the zebra crossing I noticed to my right, two men about to step out on to the Spring St pedestrian crossing.
I slowed my waka to a stop and took the time to take in these two men who told me a story as they walked very slowly across in front of me. One of them was in his sunset years and although he carried a cane he was able to navigate his way across under the guidance of the younger man who was obviously his son.
Each step was taken like a small child just learning to walk, holding on to his parent's hand like a loyal guide dog. The son stood tall and proud as he shielded his father's dignity with a smile that told the world this is my Dad and he's worth waiting for.
For his part the father took comfort in his son's shoulder as he leaned in close like a little lost child not knowing where tomorrow would take him. His whispy white hair crowned off a set of steely blue eyes that held their glance with me, and in that moment - in a single second, I knew this was a man who gave everything for his whanau and today his life's toil for his tamariki was proudly displayed and repaid.
I learned a lot from that father and son lesson on a downtown Tauranga zebra crossing, and I have thought about it a lot since. I keep hearing the lyrics of Neil Young's song "Old man take a look at my life, I am a lot like you. I need someone to love and the whole day through - just one look at your eyes and I can tell its true"
How quickly the tide of teaching turns for us all as we take this wonderful walk of life. One moment we are the little one leaning on our parents and in a New York moment we are the parent leaning on our children. It seems like we start life with nappies and toothless tucker and end up with the same menu in our sunset years. And on the way, just like in Neil Young's song, our journey from the nipple to the bottle and back again, is guided by giving as we look for love.
Who ever you are old man with white hair and wise blue eyes, thank you for crossing the straits of life in front of me.
And on the subject of Straits and one of my all-time favourite singer song writers, the new duo album by Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris is as soft and sweet as old snow himself.
If you are a little like me and I don't wish that on many, if any, this album will grow on you like a new-found friend in a forest.
If I were to turn back time and tabulate my own top 10 it would be made up of tunes that I listened to and liked more and more as I understood the story they were telling me. Just like my bro Sno and his proud son.
Do your soul a flavour and listen to the stories on this CD titled All the Roadrunning. It covers every crossing especially tracks 6, Love and Happiness and track 15, If This is Goodbye.
The good news is, it isn't goodbye but barely just the beginning and if we can learn from the simple lessons in life, we will always have some one to lean on as we cross the zebras back at 11 minutes past 11 down Spring St.
Pai marire
tommy@indigenius.org