bus station prophet

[asakiyume]

Yesterday I took the ninja girl to the bus station, and noticed the people there. This evening I went to pick her up, accompanied by the tall one and the healing angel.

This evening at the bus station there was a crazy person--older man, tall and lanky, with one milky-white blind eye, standing in the center of all the seats, speaking at random. “Shall I invite you to the wedding?” he said to one person. The tall one and I assiduously ignored him, heads bent over books. The healing angel was ignoring him too, concentrating (he told me later) on some missing tiling on the floor that looked like the Norse letter D.

The crazy man passed by us on the way to the bathroom, looked at the healing angel, and said, “You’re twelve, aren’t you.” And since the healing angel is twelve, he said, “Yes, I am.” And then the man said, “You know the scripture passage--‘Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ Do you have the keys to the house yet? ....First the house keys, and then when you get to be a little older, the keys to the car!” And then he went into the bathroom.

It was a kind of stunning experience.

Little Springtime was disappointed she didn't get to come along... if I had known it would be such an adventure, I would surely have taken you, Little Springtime!

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

The one with tin foil sounds like he's likely to be wary of interaction, himself....

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

It's not necessarily the tin foil, per se, as that he is often menacing or angry in his approach. It varies, on what factors we can only guess. The foil may simply be a way of looking scarier, rather than the presumed attempt to screen out voices. Either way, we try to avoid direct interactions when possible. Unfortunately, one of his favorite approach methods is to wait for pedestrians who are waiting at the light to cross a street downtown. Since he doesn't appear to have been arrested, or at least, to have been kept in jail for an extended period of time, he's probably not been physically violent with people.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

One thing we were saying, back at home, about interacting with people who are not thinking/behaving in the run-of-the-mill way is that it's hard to know how best to act--either engaging with the person or ignoring them can be provocative. I try to be friendly--but I don't want to feel threatened.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

either engaging with the person or ignoring them can be provocative

Yes! There are so many variables.

But, I try to be aware of the situation on a number of different levels. How public is the setting? Am I alone? Is the person acting in a way that frightens me, or are they being polite?

Tucson no longer allows the sale of newspapers or other items on the street medians, but there are some parts of the area that are outside the city limits where I still encounter people selling newspapers, flowers, flags, etc. to drivers waiting at the light. I used to avoid catching their eye, because that would cause them to approach in hope of a sale, but Karl pointed out that it's very demoralizing and dehumanizing to have people refuse to look at you in this way. So, now, I try to look at them and smile, even though I also turn down the offer. When we had more money, Karl would often slip them a couple of dollars, too.

I know a lot of people really dislike the street corner vendors, but they're just trying to get by and it's a difficult, dangerous job, even if not a traditional one.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I know a lot of people really dislike the street corner vendors, but they're just trying to get by and it's a difficult, dangerous job, even if not a traditional one. --absolutely; I agree.