Sightseeing

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Captain Imperfecto Washington DC

January 13, 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

How many times do we take the time to observe people on our vacation?  There were so many faces around me during my 6 state cold weather vacation, about 1,000 miles away from my home, back in Florida. When I write that I think, “Damn, it’s nice to get away from the constant, warm sunny Florida days to visit the cold in late December.” And it’s true.

On this trip I interacted with so many people on a daily bases I wondered to myself if I would ever encounter them again. They were alive and well before I met them, and I’m assuming they are alive and well today. However, they are so far away, I don’t even know their names, so they might as well be long gone.

The list goes on and on of all the people I encountered, on this Thelma and Louise ordeal, of people, who were behind the scenes, that didn’t involve isolated witnessing a spectacular monument or breath taking scenery.

The interactions, with people, began before the plane took off, started off bad when I spoke with the nice USAirways ticket agent. Even though I smiled and thanked her for her hard work, she moved my pre-paid, row 4 window seat, unknowingly to me, to the last row, middle seat. Yup, a 6 foot 2 inch 230 pound man, moved to the worst seat of the plane. Guess I shouldn’t have told her I was a police officer. 

On the plane, both the passengers and crew were short and seemed that they were being annoyed with everyone who breathed. Although I did sit next to a really nice newspaper journalist, who made the flight go by fast.

I moved with a leisurely stroll through the airport terminals as I saw pissed off parents and in-a-rush businessmen and women who could give a shit less that I was on holiday. But I was in no rush. Life is short. So move slower?

My short 10-dollar taxicab talks with the driver, who had no choice but to listen, the best captive audience to have, as they took me from destination to destination. I even tried to interact with hotel guests that ignored me in the elevator as I traveled back and forth to my room on the eleventh floor. I went out of my way to make eye contact with people on the street when I left my downtown hotel behind and hiked around the city. And I even looked inside cars, as they passed my car, on my road trip rental car, adventure, along the highways. Life was in full commute.

I did have incredible journeys and met some wonderful people along my adventure.  In one particular area those happy faces were attached to droves of people who were walking around talking and living life in Philadelphia. It shocked me because Philadelphia Eagle fans scare me. So of course I didn’t know what to expect from the “normal people.” Once at a Miami Dolphin game in Miami they pretty much scared the shit out of me. A little crazier then the New York Jets fans.

In my deep thoughts of all the fun I was having enjoying an original cheese steak from Pats, I never knew these people I was encountering existed until I showed up to the Keystone State, enjoying their happiness, when I realized I more than likely would never see these people again. Of course I will always have a reminder of the people that happen to walk by my camera phone as I snapped countless of photos.  

People watching can be quite entertaining.

Look, there’s a mom and dad. Dad is so disinterest in what is going on around him. He is even less interested in what his wife is doing as she does her best to make sure the kids are comfortable. As she’s doing this, I noticed her husband, gaze off in the distance. His eyes capturing the 3 young high school girls who were giggling after each selfie they took. I can only imagine, though his constant staring, that he was remembering a time, maybe around 1992, just guessing his age, that he would be free to talk to them.

“Eyes front,” his wife said as she tucked the blanket around her sons’ legs. She was keeping him warm on this chilly night.

Kids were running around this Philadelphia Penn’s Landing Waterfront Winterfest. Those kids, who were having so much fun, and their laughter, reminded me of my own kids, Nico and Christopher, who were back home in Florida. I longed to share this moment with them. I wanted their embrace. The boys and girls ran around the decorated Christmas trees and bales of hay. Their youth and excitement made them oblivious to the some of the sad faces that stood out among the sea of smiles.

Their path led my eyes to two men.

The guys were sitting on strategically placed rocking chairs, placed by the architects of this temporary Christmas village. Their seats were resting just outside the awning structure. A structure, that was covered with clear isinglass, so that the cold weather would be held at by while it was warm on in the inside. And inside this structure there was plenty of faux fireplaces and comfortable seating. While I was transfixed on these men I could tell that one of the men wasn’t happy just by seeing the scowl on his face. The other man was looking at his phone scrolling feverishly with his right thumb.

Were they bothers? Lovers? I did not know. But I knew they were upset with one and other. I decided they were lovers as their universal sign for ignoring each other gave away their relationship. We, as people, are truly the same not matter what sex the relationships are.

This place was amazing. It was situated in an open space, along side of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge just outside of Downtown Philly. During the Christmas holidays the area along the water, is transformed for a gathering of people that offers so much to do. Ice-skating, open drinking, an indoor lodge, fire pits for S’mores, Christmas lights and music drew us all in to celebrate the cold weather and fun times.

I rested my body on hay bales that were set-up to be used as couches. I covered my body with a wool blanket ignoring the fact that these were public blankets. It was a beautiful, cool, crisp night. The music was playing the latest pop songs while the ice skaters jammed to their favorite tune. Every 15 minutes the outdoor lights would dim. Then the Christmas lights would take over and dance in synch with the Christmas music playing on the overhead speakers.

These wonderful people of Philadelphia were in my life for only a few hours but I will remember them for a lifetime. I only traveled 1,127 miles to meet them. But it only took 1,127 minutes to never forget them. Off to my next adventure.

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