Noticing

Somewhere along the way my thinking got lazy. I joined the status quo and started accepting everything at face value. I noticed today that people do some amazing things and that accepting life for what it appears to be is fatal, a form of living dead. I think what prompted this thought was seeing a guy on a skateboard with a camera system. As he moved the camera remained stationary allowing him to film the movement around him without adding to it. Ingenious.

Then across the busy street I notice a performer lying on the ground bouncing a ball on his feet. That is a unique way of making a living! The rest of us walk past him, maybe cast a glance or toss a coin, but we keep our pace. The pace of our lives must not be interrupted. I suddenly wish I had my camera to capture some of these moments. Beside me, arranging herself in the sun is a woman in pink; a cigarette and a pink laptop are the props of her life. Then a child gives into her fear of being left alone and chases after her Mother with both her feet and her voice. Then a young man gives away his station and lack of respect when he leans over and spits on the sidewalk. As he walks way I notice his un-tucked shirt hanging out from under his jacket.

I think most of walk with the gait of acceptance. We cannot change or impact the things around us. As we move through the space we want to, for the most part, go unnoticed. We certainly do not want to have attention drawn to us as the crazy man yells out his threats of damnation. We duck and swerve to ensure we are at a safe distance. In the mall, as in our lives, we select things that are made for the masses. We avoid our individuality, not wanting to flirt with the danger. We wear our garments like our thoughts. We place them on so we will fit in and be accepted.

But like I said earlier I noticed that some people are doing amazing things. They walk on the outside of the branding. They forge their own experiences without concern. They thrive on being left behind. They look for the ones among us that have something different to say and they consider it. I wonder if they have a secret code. Like gay men had with handkerchiefs; they have some way of spotting another of their kind. I think they do. I think it is through a look in the eye or a carefully crafted question that they recognize one and other. They connect silently across the tops of the masses and agree to meet and share. I think that and I know this because Starbucks and Second Cup are always full.