Walk among strangers...

"...how can I not know I am momentarily part of the most spectacular phenomenon in the unnatural world? [...] For all the wariness or indifference with which we negotiate our public spaces, we rely on the masses around us to delineate ourselves. The city may begin from a marketplace, a trading post, the confluence of waters, but it secretly depends on the human need to walk among strangers." -E.L. Doctorow, City of God

That's one point of view...today I think I prefer to walk alone if my other option is among strangers. I don't need all these pesky people in my way clogging up the path to my destination.

However, random people can be good for entertainment value, at least. I saw many interesting people on the metro the other night after I left Blocktoberfest (yes, it was in September, still not sure why I was at Blocktoberfest) the day I went to the protest.

There was the scruffy bearded guy intently reading 100 Bullets with his even scriffier bearded friend who was carrying a large messenger bag full of ...? This was only mildly alarming to me because I was also at the time enthralled two other male passengers. One was a leftover protestor who looked like Dave Navarro, complete with tattoos on his arms and back--he was also shirtless, wearing cut off camo pants, and carrying his sweatshirt and a camelback. His tattoos consisted of a rose with a dagger stuck through it on his arm and a large celtic cross on his back. Despite these strange markings that may act as warnings to other animals, I still thought he looked like a nice guy...I'm always a victim of distorted first impressions. I probably wouldn't last long in the wild.

The other boy who caught my attention was much more clothed but I wished he wasn't because I wanted his shirt. He was wearing the most beautifully striped shirt I've ever seen on a boy that didn't look gay (the shirt, or the boy, I mean). The stripes were eggplant purple, navy, 3 different greens, a light blue and a medium blue, and a khaki. I love colors and these were awesome together. I often imagine stopping people as we walk off the metro to say to them what I've been thinking on the whole ride home. I wonder what kind of responses I'd get...

There were two girls on the train that I noticed, as well. They both had crazy hair styles (dreadlocks and something that looked vaguely rooster-esque) and wore sunglasses. Even though we were on the train at 11 pm.

I wish I could describe actions more than appearances, but that's really about all you get on the metro. People don't really do much other than read a paper, talk on a cell phone, or try to avoid my eyes as I watch them. Haha! Maybe one day I'll have a story about the random person I pick out to talk to as we disembark...