Phineas Anderson: Remembering life's WOW!s

From time to time we should take a moment to remember the WOW!s of our lives.

More than anything else, WOW!s are explanations of astonishment about the world around us and they contribute to what makes life worth living.

We often say WOW!

Think when we first see snow on the Catalinas, when the Queen of the Night cactus blooms, or watch a little boy in jeans, cowboy shirt and hat successfully hold on to a fast-running sheep much longer than imagined at the Tucson Rodeo.

Though most of us soon forget those experiences, they need to be remembered and retold. They are a counterbalance to the trials and tribulations of daily life and help sustain a positive and optimistic attitude of being.

May I share two WOW!s that have stayed with me over the years?

I used to ride a motorcycle around Arizona. One hot July day, I was about twenty miles north of Holbrook and I saw this big dinosaur on a bluff with the half body of a woman in its mouth. Then I saw a sign to come feed the ostriches, buy meteorites, fossils, and petrified wood at half price!

This barrages of “come-ons” did the trick and I followed the dirt road to Giselle’s Rock Shop, where a blond, bikini-clad, dusty mannequin with a cigarette in her mouth welcomed tourists to the premises.

An African-American woman was behind the counter. She surprised me because few African-Americans have settled in Arizona (less that 4% at the time), particularly in such a desolate area where I now found myself.

After a few customers left, Giselle and I started talking and she told me she was raised in Phoenix, didn’t like the city life, and jumped at the chance some years before to buy 122 acres for $1 an acre.

She found petrified wood on her land, rented a backhoe, dug up tons of the rock wood, cut and polished it, then decided to open a shop.

She built a log cabin, dug a well, bought the ostriches, constructed the dinosaur out of concrete and wire mesh, and painted colorful Indian designs on the walls of her shop.

I asked if she was married and she said no, that men just expected to be fed and taken care of and were far too much trouble. I shook my head in amazement as to what this determined woman had done on her own. Giselle was something else. She was a WOW!

Some time ago I attended an Elvis Impersonation show.

Professionals performed, as did amateurs who just took pleasure in emulating the icon.

Before the show I had noticed one impersonator in a sequined white Elvis jumpsuit with thick dyed black hair and long sideburns, who didn’t look much like Elvis at all. He was in his 50s, short and overweight, holding hands with his wife. He had a hangdog look, head and shoulders slumped over, who, when engaged in conversation, would glance up at you, then quickly drop his head down. He came across as a very shy man. John was a plumber. Since he was a boy he loved Elvis. He sang Elvis songs in the shower, went to Graceland, and collected Elvis memorabilia. This was the first time he was impersonating Elvis at a show.

His name was announced and he nervously went up on stage. He stood still. The spotlight was on him. When the background music started, he THREW his guitar around to the front of his body, LIFTED his shoulders, THREW back his head, TWISTED his left leg forward, SWIVELED his hips and BELTED out “You’re nothing but a hound dog … ” WOW! — John was Elvis!

So, to conclude, I encourage readers to keep track of your WOW!s, and to share them with others from time to time.