Wisdom from the Street

While this advice wasn't given directly to me, it is too good not to post. A homeless man told my friend Dahlia this last week at a train station:

"That train's not gonna come when you want it to, but it'll be right on time."

Freaky Friday

People hate cockroaches because they are creepy and scuttle around at the speed of light. But the last time I saw one, I had a thought: What if that is simply their response to seeing humans, which is the only time we see them? And if that's the case, what must they think of us?

"Gross! Humans! They scream and point and hop in place!"

Miscellaneous Hat Day

Waiting for a train, an old man opened a USPS flat rate envelope over his head. He spread it open, looked inside, and calmly reached the crown of his head between the folds. He was still wearing it when my train left. A few seats down from where I sat, I saw another white-haired man in a shower cap.

Did I miss the memo on this?

The Onion Man

Later at breakfast, a man passed us carrying a crate of onions. As he walked, he spoke to the patio at Country Ham n' Eggs. "I used to rob houses, now I rob onions. I'm the onion man. Good morning, ladies."
"Good morning," we replied.

Don't Know Much about Science

I have always known that the wind blows. But tonight it had me paralyzed, and something hit me: what if it sucks? That changes everything.

Face/Off

I found myself in a game of chicken with a goose today while I rode my bike up the Riverway. She won.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I love being out in the first cool days of October. No color changes yet, but already it's invigorating to gasp for that slightly cool air, to collapse the crunchy leaves with my steps, to have the sun as my ally again. I drink it in. The seasons sustain me.

The Wisdom of Children

"It's cold," said the mother. "You'd better put on your jacket."
"Mama, if I put my jacket on, how will it make you warmer?"

Touchee, kid.

Lady Plaid

I've come to realize that the gender of a flannel shirt can be found in the color and sheen of its buttons.

Discuss, Discuss!

Yesterday there was a row of seven people reading the Metro right next to each other. Many of them had similar cloudy beverages from Dunkin Donuts in their hands, too.

I thought they were a book club waiting to happen.

City Kids, Vol. 2

My boyfriend witnessed a little boy drinking from a water fountain and then being scolded by his mother the other day.

"No no no, we don't drink from those!" she said. "They're dirty!"

Heard While Entering the T

A little girl turned to her mom on her way to the escalator and said, "Mommy, can I walk up the down stairs?" Her mom said no. Moms are no fun. Safety shmafety.

Knock Knock

Today the little girl in the laundromat told me a joke.

"Knock knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Banana!"

"Banana who?"

"Banana you're putting those close in the washer, all those clothes!!!" Then she cackled triumphantly into my face and said, "I'm a good joker!"

The First T, Again

Nobody on the train sat next to anyone else this morning. People rested their heads on their hands in different ways; some let their heads hang down, collapsing into gravity. One girl didn't open her eyes until she got up to leave the train, when I saw the huge dark circles under them. Nobody even noticed me staring around, looking for inspiration.

Today it is difficult to be awake.

The Mind-Blowing Movie Event of the Summer!

The camera zooms full on the spinning top. Will it stop spinning? Will it? ...Stop? Or maybe it won't? Wait! That's the end!? Chuckle. Chuckles all around. Two and a half hours later, we all love a good chuckle.

Tuned In

As I came to the corner of College Avenue yesterday, I passed a man wearing big, round headphones. He was bobbing his head slowly, and I thought how lovely it was to see him revel in his music. Upon turning the corner, I realized that he had been shaking his head - at a man wearing equally big, round headphones walking the other way.

New

Moving makes me feel good.