Sunday, April 27, 2008

Do I look lost?

Today was such a beautiful day, I decided to enjoy it by taking a long walk. At church this evening we had a potluck, so the direction I first headed was to Safeway to get some food.
On my way there, a shiny black SUV pulled up beside me and the guy started talking to me. At first I thought he might want directions, but he was actually asking me where I was going, what I was doing, and if I wanted a ride. I told him I was going for a walk and did not want a ride. As I kept walking, he pulled up beside me again and asked me again if I wanted a ride. Again I refused, and then he pulled a u-turn and speedily drove away.
It was a little weird, but I tried to shrug it off as I continued to Safeway. Once there, I decided that cookies would be a good choice for the potluck because they wouldn't melt or wither or spoil in the warmth of the sun. I stood in the cookie aisle scanning my options, and a Safeway worker asked me if I needed any assistance. I politely declined his offer, grabbed some cookies, and headed to the drink aisle because I wanted an Arizona green tea with ginseng and honey. As I was walking down the aisle (not even standing still looking) andother worker asked me if I needed any help finding anything. I smiled and said I was fine, grabbed my iced tea, and returned down the aisle to check out. He told me to have a nice day and that he'd see me again soon. (Not likely buddy)
So at this point I wondered if people were just feeling friendly from the sunny weather, or if I had something on my person that indicated that I am lost and/or confused. Nonetheless, I continued on my journey and walked down the hill towards the river.
On the bridge there was a lovely bench overlooking the river, and so I sat and enjoyed the sunshine and people watching. Got a couple shots of some brothers having a snowball fight. Oh the irony of wearing t-shirts and having snowball fights at the same time. Anyways, while I was sitting there sipping my iced tea a shiny black truck drove by and a bunch of guys pretending to be dogs stuck their upper bodies out of the windows and thankfully I did not catch what they said.
Unfortunately my stay in the park was shortened because I had forgotten to take into account the fact that tea makes me pee.  So I continued my journey to the church, where I knew I could use the facilities.  Since I was very early, I decided I would visit the house I'm hoping to move into in the fall to see if I could meet the landlady.  
As I walked the few blocks over, a shiny black car pulled over and the two guys inside asked me where I was going, what I was doing, and if I wanted a ride.  I responded that I was going for a walk, and no I did not want a ride anywhere.  They pulled a u-turn and peeled off.  
I continued to the house, and the landlady wasn't there, so I nipped over a block to see if Steve was home and to see if he thought I looked lost or if there was something odd looking about me today, but he was as bewildered as I.

Anyways, on a completely unrelated note, I graduated yesterday!  I'll post some pictures soon on my other blog.  I'm all packed up and mostly moved, and it's a bit of a strange feeling, but I've decided to enjoy this time of liminality.  I fly back on Ontario on Tuesday, and it's a bit weird to think my time here is over (for now) but I didn't really say goodbye to anyone because, 1. I don't like goodbyes, and 2. I'm coming back in a few months.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008