So I only speak the truth. I live a normal life, but am fortunate to have some amazing stories as these. So in my travels from my work place (midtown Manhattan) to this lovely dwelling I encountered these two great tails. What makes it more amazing is that they both happened in the same work week.
The first - Tuesday Feb 25, 2008
I am standing on the 23rd Street path station platform. It is about 6:00 PM, the top of the commuting hour. As most people, though they will never admit it, I am surveying the crowd. Combing over the masses to see who is around, admiring the pretty and keeping curious as to what some people are carrying and wondering what some people are listening to through their respective headphones. As I continue to survey my crowd I notice one specific person. This man was obviously homeless, looked older, but then against living on the streets is hard on the youngest of people. I quickly notice that he seems to be adjusting his pants yet slightly violently. I soon realize (within seconds) that he is pleasuring himself, through his pocket. I didn't find this immediately offensive or humorous. We were in his home most likely and I never mean to intrude. He continued to go at it quite seriously, staring at nothing in particular, just across the platform at a soot covered wall. What makes my tale so wonderful to me is the people to this gentleman's left and right. He was going at a pace that had no thought to his neighbors but his fellow inhabitants of the platform. They were trying so hard and desperately to look like they didn't notice this man. They looked straight and strong as if there was nothing there, like they really liked what they were reading, like they didn't notice a homeless man enjoying his version of a night alone.
The Second - Thursday Reb 27, 2008
Yet another path story. I am on the path train, would be safe to say around 6:45. I am standing on the train once again surveying my crowd, all standing there, the extras in the movie of my life. I notice this one person, a younger guy, most likely in his late 20's staring at his iPod and looking suspiciously around the train car. He had an embarrassed look upon his face, so scared and timid with his motions, completely as if he was hiding something. He continues to glance at the rest of the car every couple of minutes. I managed to slowly move myself into position to see his screen as I pretend to read from my copy of The New York Times (arts section as I mask it with the business section). I glance down and notice something I didn't expect. This completely embarrassed and scared looking man is watching.........the Oprah Winfrey show.
These are the stories that bring me home.
-Pete
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