Random Deflowering
My ride didn't pick me up for mentoring today so instead I walked over to the school of music to pick up some information and maybe a poster for the Bach Festival. On the way across the school of music lawn, a somewhat scraggly guy directed a comment my way. Immediately, my guard went up but I politely replied, "pardon?"

"You enjoying this weather?" He asked again.

I was a little surprised. "Yes, very much, it's wonderful!" I said. "Did you know there's a partial solar eclipse today?"

"Really? No.." he mumbled. He was holding a white and pink rose in his hands. I was about to say "ciao" and veer over to the school of music- I needed to be going a different direction but he obviously thought we were walking together. He stopped me as he continued, holding up the flower. "Smell this," he said, "it smells just like sweet raspberries." Okay... I smelled it, but thought it a little flustering that he was offering me to smell his rose. I smiled and waved and headed over toward the school of music, hoping he wasn't thinking I was waving him away. "Here!" he called, and gave me the rose, "for you."

Wow. Well. Um. Kay... I'm socially inept. "Thanks," I said... and went on my way, rather pleased and kind of embarrased. He seemed genuinely nice and here I had him pegged for some shallow weirdo. I guess I walk around with my guard up so often that I forget to take it down. I felt stupid and rather rude for not talking to him longer, or even offering my name. I miss the cues sometimes, I get flustered and feel guilty and botch it all up. I'm no master of conversation or of subtlety. It was a nice moment though, and I suppose it did, in a way, make my day. It was life's way of saying "here, slow down, appreciate what's in front of you." So I did. For a time.

I walked home and cut across one of the bike paths to seek out a shortcut to the BMX ring alongside Autzen. I found the shortcut but also some unpleasantness as I came out. I heard the screeching of tires and someone leaning on a horn quite angrilly, followed by some shouting. I assumed someone had cut off a redneck coming out of the BMX park. I was wrong. It was a redneck but one very angry with his son, who had come to the park without permission. The poor kid got shoved into the van and, tires squealing and spitting gravel everywhere, his father sped away. I heard him yelling "Well you find out life fucking SUCKs, son!" and I knew the kid was dreading the beating he was going to get later that night. It scared the bejeezus out of me, knowing that people treat their kids that way.

Well, we just had an enjoyable little viewing of the partial eclipse and now we're off to dinner at Poppis Anatolia with Murray and friends.