{"id":129733,"date":"2023-06-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=129733"},"modified":"2023-06-14T20:54:07","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T01:54:07","slug":"the-view-from-the-balcony-interview-with-the-balcony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/the-view-from-the-balcony-interview-with-the-balcony\/","title":{"rendered":"The View From The Balcony: \u201cInterview with The Balcony\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I\u2019ve conducted many interviews through the years with Supreme Court Justices, ghosts, presidents, disgraced coaches, politicians, entertainment celebrities, statues, and others. It occurred to me that I\u2019ve never interviewed The Balcony<\/strong> itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Saturday night, after a torrential rain, I hid on The Balcony at closing time and waited for the Knights of the Long Table<\/strong> to finish their work and leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once they were gone I went to the southwest corner\u2014my favorite spot\u2014opened my heart to my deepest Zen space and invited The Spirit of The Balcony<\/strong> to come speak with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within seconds the wind rose. All the streetlights went dark, draping The Balcony in a shroud of blackness that would veil any convocation that took place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell,\u201d said The Spirit of The Balcony (SOTB), \u201cYou summoned me. What do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFirst of all I\u2019d like to thank you for the sanctity of this space you provide,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d said SOTB. \u201cI just try to make it inviting, friendly, and safe for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou do it well,\u201d I said. \u201cWhat are some of your favorite moments?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always loved it when that little French guy, Jean Marie, I think, would climb my columns. He was like a little spider monkey that sure knew how to live in the moment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, yes! And who could forget the time you ran down the stairs to ask Drop-Top Tallulah to drive you around The Square? Her little mutt of a dog snapped at you and you claimed it was a pit bull that had swallowed your arm up to the shoulder! I also love The Balcony Parking Commission and when y\u2019all call out the people with the extra-loud vehicles: \u2018Sorry about your penis!\u2019 I\u2019m sorry, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhiskey Wednesday. That\u2019s a motley crew (laughs). There\u2019s a real sweetness in their banter that goes beyond friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, I love it when people come to Oxford for the first time and land here. The Locals and The Townies are all too generous in making them feel at home and in giving them all the information they need to know to enjoy the best of the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve loved the scores of reunions between former classmates and friends\u2014the laughter and the love. I\u2019m especially moved when a hurting person leans on a trusted friend and finds the solace and understanding they wanted and needed. I\u2019ve heard the solution to political, relational, and economical problems in the world. I\u2019ve listened to philosophies galore and anyone and everyone\u2019s share of B.S.\u2014including yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe many times people who work here come out to spend their off time with each other says a lot. They could go to any other bar, but they choose to come here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve tried to keep the playing field level, to make a space for all kinds of people, all kinds of beliefs, all kinds of art, and all kinds of ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve done an amazing job of it,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a job,\u201d SOTB said. \u201cIt\u2019s a joy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that, SOTB began to dissipate, leaving their solid form to return to the Realm of Spirits. In their last seconds of tangibility, with their voice trailing out, SOTB said, \u201cYou\u2019ve said this place is church to you\u2014a holy place. I\u2019ve heard you call it the First Conversational Church of the City Grocery Balcony. I like that. I really, really like that. In the end, conversation is the heart of it all and relationships are the bottom line. Always remember that, Randy. Always remember.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that, SOTB disappeared, unable to be seen by the naked eye, but still present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026and that\u2019s the View from The Balcony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randy Weeks is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Shamanic Life Coach, an ordained minister, a singer-songwriter, and an actor. He knows how lucky, how blessed he is. Randy may be reached at randallsweeks@gmail.com.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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