People That I Meet

Walking everywhere has given me the opportunity to encounter local characters. When I don't see them at their usual stations I miss them. When I do see them, I feel like everything is right with the world. Strange how little things make a place seem like "home".

One thing I have noticed about this area, people seem to talk to themselves a lot! No, they aren't on a cell phone, they are truly talking to themselves. I saw one such man today. Going to a doctor's appointment, I passed a man that was having a rather heated conversation with himself. He was speaking in a low, muttering voice and had a very serious look on his face. I really had to double check that he wasn't on a phone. Interesting. I thought, maybe it's just me....maybe I am the only person who runs across these people. However, I was with a group of friends and someone else brought this up. I started laughing because it's just nice to know that I'm not imagining this.

On warm days, there is an older lady who sits by herself outside a coffee shop. She is the kind of person I want to be. She wears some of the neatest outfits. The first time I saw her, she was wearing a bright pink hat with flowers, a pink blouse, purple-ish skirt and pink rain boots. She tends to wear bright pink....but occasionally changes to purple. The coolest thing she wore....pink rain boots with purple dots! No, it wasn't raining....and there was not a cloud in the sky.

By far, the greatest person I've gotten accustom to seeing is "Thieves Man". This man is tall and always wears a faded green army jacket. His hair reminds me of Kramer on Seinfeld.

The first time I saw "Thieves Man", Christian and I were waiting for Skip outside a shop. It was a bright Sunday afternoon and I was just looking around, watching people. I see this man..."TM" walking and talking with an older gentleman. The older gentleman walked with a cane and just shuffled along. He didn't really look like he was listening to or even with "TM". "Thieves Man" was talking rather loudly and barely watching where he was going. As they approached me, I could hear "TM" saying...."There are thieves about! Thieves!!!! AND they are talking my money. There are thieves about!!!!" He kept saying this over and over. I thought, o.k.....don't look directly into his eyes and you'll be safe.

I began looking in a shop window trying to keep one eye on "TM" but trying to look away. Then "it" happened.

I looked up and "TM" was looking directly at me. Our eyes met......

Suddenly, "TM" became MORE excited and began to rant, "There are thieves about!!!! There are thieves and they have children!!! There are thieves about and they have children and they are stealing from me!!!!"

I have never been so freaked out in my life.

Thieves Man went on about his way and when Skip came out I suggested we avoid going in the same general direction.

I have seen "TM" on other occasions and no, he still doesn't appear to be in my range of what I would call "normal". But, he seems to have friends...or maybe he just sits with people. I have seen him pacing back and forth at a bus stop. Yes, I was going to catch the bus at this same bus stop...but decided to keep walking.

Before I end this, I want to make something very clear......I know that Christian gets into things BUT neither Christian OR I have stolen anything from Thieves Man!!!!! hahahahahahaha