Friday, January 20, 2006

The streets of Seattle

There was a break in the almost constant rain yesterday.  Enough to let some of the crazy people feel safe enough to come out of where ever it is they go when it’s been raining for 30 some odd days.  (no, not consecutive days, the darn clouds broke for a 36 hours stretch, just long enough for us NOT to break that stupid record.  But it’s been raining ever since.)
Due to the break in the rain and having meetings in other buildings, I too was outside more than usual yesterday, and thus exposed to the crazy people on the street.
The morning started out with a black man begging for change for food.  His race is important, because as soon as I refused him he immediately started cursing “you white folks” for never giving change.  I was also berated for being racist, which I found interesting.  I did feel a little guilty a few minutes later when I had my warm coffee and bagel in my hands heading into the office, but I figure that is why I have a job and go to work every day.  So I can eat.
Later I was making my way to the Library and saw another person on the side of the road.  This time the guy had a small bottle of booze in his hand and was busy toasting a UPS truck.  It looked like he and the truck had been deep in conversation for some time as he was just coming to the end of his toast when I passed by.  I made the mistake of looking back at him, to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing, and the guy gave me an angry look and started muttering to the UPS truck about people on the street. 
Finally, in the afternoon I was heading off to another meeting and heard a guy yelling on a street corner.  I’m not exactly sure what causes people to do this, but it’s funny and interesting at the same time.  This guy was somewhat of a religious fanatic and was yelling about God, Jesus and telling every one that he was “The only one who walks the line.” The thing that makes me laugh about this is the people’s relations to it.  Some people yell back, either in praise or anger.  In this case, one guy was hollering at the other about how wrong he was and that he wasn’t the only one that walks the line.  What ever the line is.  There were also some ladies further down the street who were discussing the guy. 
I guess what really gets me about this is how common place it feels to me now.  Crazy people are all over downtown.  I am constantly asked for spare change and I constantly tell people no.  Then I am berated for not being a kind person.  Sometimes I feel guilty about it, most of the time I just shrug.  I know there will be more beggars in the summer time, especially during tourist season.  And there will be more people yelling about God, the government and various other things. 
I just hope, through it all, that I still see the humor on the other end.