Monday in the city
Feb. 8th, 2002 09:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elionwyrI had an early doctor's appointment in the city on Monday.
Due to overcompensation on my part, I ended up being there an hour early, so I ducked into a Burger King to grab some breakfast.
When I sat down, I found myself facing an elderly homeless man. He had the rather regal look of a property owner; he nodded and smiled at me from this exalted self-status.
Usually, I look away, embarrased by such things. It's been drilled into me for years now that one never makes eye contact in Philadelphia. But that day, the walls were down, and so I smiled shyly back at him, then turned my attention to my breakfast.
The mood remained, even after I left the Lord of the Manor behind.
When I left my doctor's office a few hours later, I walked into a small crowd of laughing, joking men. Because this particular office is a place where abortions are performed, I was at first very cautious; as the caution dropped, one fellow turned, smiled, and chirped, "Hello!"
Unsure if he was talking to me, I hesitated before returning the greeting.
His smile grew broader. "Must be one of those days!" he announced. "The only people who aren't being friendly must have been Rams fans!"
I don't follow football, but I followed the reference, so I wished him a good day and continued to walk into the city.
As I passed through City Hall's concourse, admiring the truly beautiful gargoyles adorning the walls, I realized there was a rally ahead of me. I cringed at the grammar of the woman speaking as I passed by, trying to suppress my judgmental nature, hoping that the group's goal of better healthcare funding for blacks with HIV and AIDS would be reached.
Then the woman broke into a gospel-sounding tune - not one I recognized, and not sung expertly, but beautiful nonetheless. The sound followed me as I continued down Market Street. I looked up at Liberty Place; the sound of her singing echoed off the buildings around me.
It was as if the soul of the city itself was singing.
Due to overcompensation on my part, I ended up being there an hour early, so I ducked into a Burger King to grab some breakfast.
When I sat down, I found myself facing an elderly homeless man. He had the rather regal look of a property owner; he nodded and smiled at me from this exalted self-status.
Usually, I look away, embarrased by such things. It's been drilled into me for years now that one never makes eye contact in Philadelphia. But that day, the walls were down, and so I smiled shyly back at him, then turned my attention to my breakfast.
The mood remained, even after I left the Lord of the Manor behind.
When I left my doctor's office a few hours later, I walked into a small crowd of laughing, joking men. Because this particular office is a place where abortions are performed, I was at first very cautious; as the caution dropped, one fellow turned, smiled, and chirped, "Hello!"
Unsure if he was talking to me, I hesitated before returning the greeting.
His smile grew broader. "Must be one of those days!" he announced. "The only people who aren't being friendly must have been Rams fans!"
I don't follow football, but I followed the reference, so I wished him a good day and continued to walk into the city.
As I passed through City Hall's concourse, admiring the truly beautiful gargoyles adorning the walls, I realized there was a rally ahead of me. I cringed at the grammar of the woman speaking as I passed by, trying to suppress my judgmental nature, hoping that the group's goal of better healthcare funding for blacks with HIV and AIDS would be reached.
Then the woman broke into a gospel-sounding tune - not one I recognized, and not sung expertly, but beautiful nonetheless. The sound followed me as I continued down Market Street. I looked up at Liberty Place; the sound of her singing echoed off the buildings around me.
It was as if the soul of the city itself was singing.
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(big smile . . .)
Re:
Date: 2003-03-22 09:11 pm (UTC)*in-love sigh*