On becoming extraordinarily ordnary
in praise of Freddie Wilson
What makes a man great?
How does one leave his mark on the world?
The turnip seems to believe that acquiring more real estate is the way forward. Building empires tends to get remembered.
But does building an empire make one truly great?
Foolishly enough, I’ve decided that my heroic adventures in life involve hurting myself on a bicycle.
Greatness doesn’t need to be either that aggressive or painful.
Today, while rolling along the rail trail to The Rooster we crossed the 207 just after Rocky Run. I spoke up
In the summer there’s always a special needs guy right here wearing high vis and waving at traffic. Not sure why. It’s almost like it’s his job or something. Hell, I'm not sure why we often push ourselves to extremes, seeking a kind of perceived greatness. Maybe it's the same impulse that drives the dude in Three Fathom Harbour to stand there all day waving at cars.
Maybe we want to be seen a certain way - tough, enduring, remarkable. Maybe the dude in Three Fathom Harbour wants to be seen as nice, friendly, kind, loving or welcoming.
My rambling thoughts were interrupted by Zeke’s excitement.
Zeke chirped - He’s the Eastern Shore’s ‘Freddie Wilson’.
Freddie Wilson?
Who the fuck is Freddie Wilson?
Behind Zeke’s wrap around sunglasses, I could see his eyes twinkling. He had a good story to share.
Freddy Wilson’s a dude down the Valley. He has a mental disability likely due to a birth complication. For almost fifty years he’s stood on at the West Brooklynn overpass waving at people in their cars as they drove by. He became famous for it - they eventually named the overpass after him.
People driving by are so moved by Freddy that some stop, even getting off the highway, to take photos with him. Others bring him gifts. Freddy gets a charge out of being seen. That’s what’s kept him coming back.
Dear reader,
When my nanny says that we live in ‘the best part of the best part’ of the world, I can’t help but agree. We’re the kind of place that recognizes commitment and celebrates people of all sorts.
For Freddie, it’s not a job. He just loves doing it. He loves everything about being up there. For Freddie, waving at cars and having them honk acknowlegement of his existence, his humanity has become a vocation. It’s how he makes meaning.
We all need to find a way to fill out time between waking and sleeping, being born and being dead. Freddie has found his.
I’m proud that our province has taken the time to honour Freddie Wilson. Given that we’re also home to the legendary meteorologist Frankie MacDonald, it’s also not surprising.
Sure you can find greatness by having a wing of a hospital named after you or feel great from achieving a personal best. You could discover some brave new world and get your name on a map.
Or,
By simply showing up every day, giving a wave and touching the lives of others, you too are capable of an extraordinary form of ordinary greatness.
