February 22, 2017 – Bozeman, Montana

“Are you building a wall?”

I ask the young boy at the bar as he places multiple check presenters upright and positions them next to each other in a row.

“Yeah, it’s Donald Trump’s wall!”

I laugh out loud in response. How old is this kid? His family is either running around the hotel lobby (siblings) or sitting behind him in the restaurant (adults). We’ve had a mutually pleasant experience thus far, as the family has taken the time to ask me questions about myself, and I have served them with dignity and respect, as I do with everyone.

The adults (two mothers that appear to be sisters along with their father) are engaging in post-dinner drinks and conversation. I don’t usually go too far into detail about the finer points of my lifestyle with guests, but if they genuinely want to know, I tell them. Turns out they want to know.

My story elicits one of the most raw and honest responses I can recall. The grandfather opens up about how he spent his whole life working in a factory and how he viewed it as a waste of his youth. He wasn’t able to travel, wasn’t able to see the world. And now he’s getting old. He says he is envious of my lifestyle.

A rare, reaffirming moment for me.

His story speaks to me, sticks with me. His daughters chime in about how he came from another country. Grew up in a different time. Raised a family that loves him. I chime in about how trends are changing, how technology is opening the world up to younger people, how we have more opportunities to travel now than we ever have in the past.

“Bye, Bunny!”

The young boy leaves with his family and calls me by my new nickname on the way out. I clean up the table and take down “Trump’s wall.” What a nice family. My mind starts wandering into the realm of family, kids…

The grass is always greener on the other side.

“Wealthy is he who enjoys what he has.” – Lama Surya Das