losing track

The heat has really picked up in Salt Lake City. With mountains surrounding the city and nearly 7 months of winter weather it is easy to forget that we still live in the middle of a mostly desert state until the weather actually heats up.
It seems that we live in a society where we air condition ourselves in order to keep us moving. Gotta have air conditioning in the car for all that time we sit in it while we get to the store or to work or to wherever. We run ourselves ragged working to pay the bills and hope that we have enough left over to afford some pleasure.
And even our pleasure can be expensive. Some people spend so much money in search of a smile. I think that sometimes we lose track of what really is important and how it's those rare moments of honesty and happiness or peace that fuel our hearts. We spend hours at work, most of us doing duties that pays the bills but do not necessarily feed our soul. And all in the midst of people we wouldn't want to see outside of that environment.
A few days ago, in 90 degree weather, I went to the store to get some groceries. It was so hot. My car unfortunately does not have a working air conditioner so I use the 2 by 40 method. Two windows down, driving 40 miles per hour makes it almost bearable in 90 degree weather.
Anyway, I walked past the creek that disappears under the street and I had a random thought. I saw the cool water speeding down the creek and I saw a trail so I thought to myself why not? I had my camera and I was in no rush to get into my cooking hot car to put my hands on the baked plastic steering wheel.
I followed the trail down and came to a nice shady spot. I was alone in a world of cool shade and sunshine. I set down my bread and veggies and started looking for shots of the creek. It was then that I realized that I was not really alone. Across the creek on the opposite bank was a local vagrant sitting with his feet in the water of the creek and a look of concern on his face. It seemed as though he was waiting for a negative comment or a look of disgust.
And at that moment - I was not a 9 to 5'er with rent and a car. And he was not a homeless vagrant. Not to me. He was a human being with a simple need and a wonderful idea. I smiled and waved and then I sat down on the bank, rolled up my pants and slowly dipped my toes in the water.
He smiled and we sat together for quite some time. We chatted a little. We kept it simple - subjects that we could both relate to and suddenly there was no separation set by society's standards in our moment. We were simply two beings enjoying the cool water on our toes. He asked about my camera and I told him that it was my freedom. It was my tool to capture the world and all it's pain and beauty. He smiled and wriggled his toes in the creek water. His face was so peaceful and yet there was a smile in his eyes. I then asked him if I could take his portrait. I told him that we are very much alike today. And he agreed.
After some time we put our shoes back on and we went our separate ways after a friendly goodbye.
I am sure that I will see him around. And next time he won't be afraid to see the look on my face when he see's me. Next time I think I will see a smile and a knowing look because we enjoyed such a moment together.