Phone vs. Real Life

Night Owl Confession #6.7.17-
I ordered my lunch in the rear of the Black Steer( it's a thing, trust me), and I sat next to this colorful character. As I waited for my to-go order, I pulled my phone out just as this gentleman started to chat me up. I chose to put my phone away.
"My name is Bud." The then whispers "really its Warren, but I like Bud better." He told me he plays Pokémon Go on his flip phone and he caught so many Pokémon that they all follow him around now. This made me smile. I knew his flip phone wasn't capable, and he was now just trying to relate.
He would get excited each time he saw someone in the restaurant take out their cell phone because he makes "400% each time someone uses their phone or debit card"
Bud also "owns 7,000 acres around the Great Western Sugar Factory which is now shopping malls instead of farmland because no one farms sugar beets anymore."
Our conversation looped all around a couple of different topics, and then he told me "people think I have dementia or Alzheimer's, but I'm not crazy."
This was no surprise to me, and later it hit... Chasing Pokémon was a bit like chasing conversations with people with dementia. It's something I am very familiar with.
I only spent a few minutes chatting with Bud, yet it was a delightful time. It reminded me of when I would chat with my beloved G-Pa Sewolt, who also had dementia. Bud even dressed like him, too! Funny t-shirt, shirts showing off white, knobby knees and a hat.
Whatever it is, I'll take it as a little sign from my G-pa telling me he's still around. It was also a sweet reminder of how choosing conversations with strangers over hiding in your phone can be a positive thing. ❤️