Today I got on the MAX to go downtown and wander around the Saturday Market and the waterfront to do some people watching. This guy was my favorite…
Perhaps mid to late forties, very overweight and balding. But cute! So adorable I just wanted to squish him. He had a brown paper bag lunch folded perfectly in one hand and clutched a book to his chest with the other. He looked “determined” to enjoy the max even though it was a crush of people dressed for St. Patrick’s Day. He was so stoic, maintaining a tight smile and politeness to everyone even though it was obvious he was uncomfortable with the crowd. At the stop near the Chinese Garden, he gathered his courage and literally tiptoed – I’m not kidding, 250lbs of tiptoe like walking across hot coals- to the sliding door, took three breaths and hopped off the Max with both feet at the same time, throwing his belly out like he was afraid the doors would close on his butt. He turned to the Max as it was pulling away and he wore a look of absolute triumph. Smile beaming from ear to ear.
It was then that I saw the title of the book he was clutching to his chest – “The Anxiety and Phobia’s Workbook.”
I started laughing because you couldn’t have made a character like that from pure fiction!
I wanted to call him Bob, and tell him “Baby steps, Bob. Baby steps.” I was suddenly overwhelmed with love for this guy. God! I love this city and all its weird residents.
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