A BUM GAVE ME A GIFT

Actually two bums gave my friends and me a gift. One gave a dollar to my friend. How rare is that? A homeless person giving away money. Wait, let me clarify, I am by no means dismissing them because they are homeless. Bum has always been a funny word to me. Like that makes it better. So in 2006, we were shooting a Crest commercial in downtown LA. The set was pretty much open, because video village was set up on the sidewalk. So the director is rolling, and we're watching, and along comes this guy just a smiling from cheek to cheek. He had very aged somewhat sun damaged brown skin, and about 4 teeth. He stops and looks intensely at us and says, "IT'S GETTING KIND OF DIM, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP BULB!" I looked at my friend who's name rhymes with Tamille Caylor, with a smirk that suggested I wanted more. So without asking he said it again, but even louder and even more emphatic "I SAID, IT'S GETTING KIND OF DIM, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP BULB!" So we, being the silly girls that we are, decided to give him some direction, I mean we were on the set of a commercial.

US: andddddddddd ACTION,

HESTER: I SAID, IT'S GETTING KIND OF DIM, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP BULB!

US:Marker, Take 2,

HESTER: I SAIDuh, IT'S GETTING KIND OF DIM, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP BULB!

US: Ok, okay this time do it with a smile.

HESTER: (gentler)I SAID, IT'S GETTING KIND OF DIM, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP BULB!

Then our creative directors came over and broke up the party, as they always do. Before he left the set, he let out this laugh that I can still hear at times. It was a high pitched almost cackle mixed with a hiss. He was so happy, as if he'd finally made it in Hollywood. At least that's the story that I created. That he'd moved to LA from St. Louis to make it on Sanford and Son, but when he got to the set, they kicked him to the curve. So he got caught up in drugs, which explains his missing teeth.

He gave me the gift of, "I SAIDuh, IT'S GETTING KIND OF DIM, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP BULB!" because five years later, I think about it when I feel low. There are many true statements when it comes to life's trials, for instance the ever popular, "THIS TOO SHALL PASS." I say that often to friends who are going through stuff, but there's just something about "I SAIDuh, IT'S GETTING KIND OF DIM, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP BULB!" One, I have a memory of good times to attach to it. Two, sometimes we take things and ourselves so seriously, that we need to lighten up and see that it's not that deep or serious. Hold on, give me a minute to digest that, and believe it. TICK TOCK TICK TOCK. Okay, I'm going to have to get back to you on that one. Wait no. Alright, YES. It does work, because I was feeling a little icky, and hormonal, and off balance, which inspired this blog today, and I immediately redirected my thoughts to something lighter and brighter. So thank you Mr. Hester (that's what I named him.) ONE MORE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE, BUM: "I SAIDuh, IT'S GETTING KIND OF DIM, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP BULB!"