Paradise Found

Travelling into town the other day I was waved at by Johnny Barnes. For those of you who are unaware, Johnny is an elderly (80-ish) gentleman who has been standing on the roundabout at the foot of East Broadway for more than 20 years, waving at the rush hour traffic and wishing them a good day. The government erected a statue to him (even though he is still living), and the Guardian Online even had an article on him – albeit 6 years ago. This waving lark for little or no personal gain seems to be something native to Bermuda, because I was travelling into town from Spanish Point yesterday when I saw the “Point Mart Johnny Barnes”. This is a somewhat unkempt gentleman who sits at the Point Mart on Spanish Point Road, sipping from a cup coffee and waving at the passers-by on their way to work. I know he has been waving at the Point Mart for more than 5 years, because when I first came to the island back in 2000 he was there. Is he trying to usurp our beloved Johnny? Is he an eager acolyte, trying to rack up some frequent waver miles? Or have the IOC announced that waving will be a new Olympic Sport, which is why these boys are in training? Only time will tell.