Today at the bus stop, waiting with my two young 'ens, an older guy wearing a WebTv cap caught my gaze and immediately started to tell story after story. Tangents led to other stories; wearing a Giants costume as a greeter in front of Lefty O'Douls, being the spotlight guy 7 days a week at a Girlie Theatre in Chinatown, keeping strangers off a sleeping Judy Garland- okay, that one got my interest, and on, and on, and on...this continued on the bus, and off the bus. It was not threatening in the least- it was simply, a solitary man finding an audience. Even my oldest boy said to me, "he seemed lonely". Spot on.These folks often find their way to me; perhaps I seem to be more audience than performer, more listener than talker...I don't know. This gentleman was so enthused, he seemed to double time his stories, layering one over others not yet finished. I worry about this type of loneliness; people who find themselves disconnected at some later point of their lives (perhaps their small circle shrinks to one, or very few because of age) . I hope not to be in the same boat. Not so much as a judgement of anyone else but just as recognition of the other side; when there is no willing audience. Also, it is a bit difficult to engage in this cadenza of free time speaking. Well, the boys said that I need not worry; despite the paths their lives will take them, they will be around. I might hold them to it.
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