Thursday, October 21, 2010

Quirky or Quacked?

This really elegant post of Elizabeth Mueller's yesterday reminded me of an experience I had not so long ago... it is so funny, because Elizabeth's post was touching and warm and fuzzy.  This experience was... not that... in fact I'd venture to say it fit well for Delusional Thursday...

So picture the lovely fall day in Ann Arbor... the sky is blue, the air is brisk for no coat but too warm for a coat... the Tart, always erring on the side of fewer clothes, has her coat hanging from her backpack and is reading a book (Mockingjay, I think).

A little old man who looks marginally professorly says, "Oh, is that a good book?" as she passes.

The Tart, knowing she is overly reclusive, and loving the book, slows to tell him a little about it.

"Oh, I don't really read much."

pause

"I write."

AHA!  So the Tart thinks she has found a kindred spirit and asks him what kind of writing he DOES.

He proceeds to pull a notebook out of his coat pocket. Two by three inches, I swear.  He opens it and pulls out one of those little pencil stubs you can imagine GOING with said notebook.  Then he OPENS the notebook to show me he does indeed WRITE in it... Weather.  Things he bought.  Things he needs.

Can you see me dying a little?  I don't want to OFFEND this little old man, but that was NOT what I was thinking!

So anyway, I hope all of your Thursday delusions are more satisfactory, and if all else fails, you KNOW what Thursday is for! 

GET NAKED! NOW!

26 comments:

Cruella Collett said...

Oh, but imagine how HAPPY you made him! Pretty, young woman such as yourself, interested in HIS writing. To him it probably was important, even though he wasn't exactly a novelist. I think you get oodles of karma points for just stopping and taking the time to exchange those few words with him. Many would not.

Ann said...

Sounds like the quirky type of character to work into a story somehow

Al said...

I'm with Ann a figure like that just has to appear in a book somehow.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

He was writing, all right! Ha! And maybe doing some flirting while he was out doing errands. :)

Old Kitty said...

Awwwww all writing is good!! Maybe he's like that Danny De Vito character in Throw Momma... they mean something to him like the coins Danny treasures?? Awwww!!

We love us some NAKEDness!!! Preferably with central heating on cos it's like really cold outside!!!

Take care
x

Natasha said...

Isn't that anticlimatic. But like Mari says, he must have been so happy that you were that interested in him- you've got some positive karma out of it.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes compassion is the answer and no one needs answer for the disappointments we bring upon ourselves. Besides, sounds like a wonderful character to write about. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

If he doesn't read, then he's definitely not a writer!

Mason Canyon said...

But just think - each one of those items he'd jotted down had it's own adventure to it. Those could have just been his touch points of many grand adventures that you could expand on. Plus, I agree you probably made him very happy to show interest in what he was doing. Major karma points for you. :)

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Hart Johnson said...

teehee--thanks everyone! He really WOULD make a great character... erm... if anyone believed such a character were possible!

Jenny-great parallel with Owen!

Southpaw said...

That would have been very confusing.

Talli Roland said...

Yes! Make him a character!

I wonder how far back his weather observations go! Could be intriguing...

MJenks said...

There's a board meeting today.

I see no better time...ever...to get naked.

I'll wave to you from the unemployment line.

Sarah*G* said...

I wanted to stop by to say hello as I've signed up for the Writers Platform Crusade today! So, hello!

Unknown said...

"It's Thursday, let's get naked."

Ha ha ha! I should try that at school... See how well it goes ;-)

Oh, and welcome to the writers' crusade!!

LTM said...

LOL!!! love that story. :D

Yay, Nakedness!

M.J. Nicholls said...

Awesome story. Actually made me teary-eyed, and that usually takes a bucket of pain and suffering. I happen to have a soft spot for the gentle elderly. They are a symbol of beauty in an ugly world.

Andrew said...

Heh heh....
I try to avoid engaging the elderly as much as possible. One wrong word, and you're stuck in a 20 minute conversation with them.

Funny story!

Private said...

Well, on the bright side he probably wrote about you in his little notebook!

VR Barkowski said...

I have to agree with the pack here: the man's notebook revelation may have been anticlimactic, but he made for a great blog post and he'll make a great story character one day.

My motto? Any day is a good day to get naked. Thursdays are no exception!

The Words Crafter said...

This was sweet! You were very kind to make his day like that, and I'm sure you did.

lisahgolden said...

As much as I holler about being a loner, I would have done the same thing. I often engage strangers in conversation.

P.S. I'm typing this naked.

Anonymous said...

Invite him to Naked Thursday and he'll have even more to write about. ;)

RaShelle Workman said...

Oh dear Hart, I've been dressed ALL DAY!!! Dang it. Sounds like you had a lovely experience *snicker* with the old guy. ;D

erica and christy said...

**whip off clothes**

we didn't miss it, did we??!!

Cheeseboy said...

It is kinda a sweet story though. Poor guy probably treasures that little notebook.

Thank you for your kind words on my blog about my Grandma. Very thoughtful.