“Co-tenancy”

I wonder what David Gunn would think, having so many people pass by him so many days, yet not give him very much thought. So little attention that they trample over him, and his wife, on a daily basis.

Would he mind? Would he rather the activity and the interest, instead of nothing. Is it better to be a little disrespected, a little trampled, instead of being totally forgotten?

Or would he rather be in total peace?

What does P.J. Malone of Ireland think? Is he happy because he doesn’t get trampled on as much as Mr. and Mrs. Gunn. What would he think of all the visitors and all the commotion about a father and son he never met.

Would he like to be left in peace too? Or would he say “Hey this is not so bad … rather be in the thick of things then off in the middle of no-where.”

These are the things I thought when I walked through the cemetery the other night.

I had wanted to go for a while, and it was a busy spot. Cars driving in and out, all to see the same thing. As I was walking up the main driveway a car slowed down and asked me the question in a thick accent that everyone had on their mind:

“Where is Bruce Lee?”

I just wanted what everyone else wanted. To see the spot and maybe spend a little one on one time. So I waited patiently as a girlfriend took pictures of her boyfriend posing in a fighters pose behind the gravestone. And as a dad “face-timed” with his daughter standing next to the grave beaming with pride, all the while wearing a Bruce T-Shirt. I took a few pictures of him too, at his request. Another fighting pose was the last one. Then a mom and daughter visiting from far away came by … they thought I was a “security guard” because I was just standing and waiting … glad they thought I looked so intimidating.

So as I waited I thought about Mr. and Mrs. Gunn, and watched how people just walked over them to get to the main attraction. I watch P.J. Malone and thought of the interesting Juxtaposition as probably many have of an old Irish man sitting right next to Bruce and his son in all of their final resting spots.

And then I had my moment with the master, and everything was quiet. So I sat on the bench and thought for about ten minutes. Thought about life and thought about Mr. and Mrs. Gunn. Were they happy? Was P.J. happy? Did they have dreams just like Mr. Lee? Was he just more disciplined? Did he have better habits? Or was this just all the way it was supposed to be.

It was a nice ten minutes.  Its a nice spot, someone smartly created some shrubbery around the place to provide a bit of solitude. Someday I would love to stand there for a day and interview all of the people coming to visit and see where they are from and what Bruce means to them.

It was not long after I stood back up that another guy, complete with headphones and a QFC shopping bag assumed my position. We nodded the quiet nod with no words spoken. Maybe this was his first time too … or maybe it was a Sunday night tradition for him. Either way it was a fascinating look into life and how people interact with those long gone but not forgotten.

I would like to go back again, if Mr. Lee and P.J. would have me. It’s a nice place.