(no subject)
Through some twist of events I ended up downtown watching the fireworks alone. That has never happened before. Not sure how to describe it to people who haven't had kids for so long that they can't remember not having them.
Basically, I was supposed to go to work. I was about to. Then realized; It is a nice day. Work is not going to be busy. Didn't have anything to do at work that can't wait. I haven't been feeling appreciated at work anyway. Fireworks are tonight.
So I called and ask if they felt they really needed me. Then I called The Wife about four times to see where they were. She 'didn't hear her phone.' I went downtown. Walked across the bridge. Through the park both ways. Walked the river paths (we had been sitting at river level or under bridges for the last few years.) Not necessarily looking for the family, odds were against that, but anyone I knew. Ran into Shift Manager and her Fiance. Ended up sitting alone under the Varnum building.
Didn't bother me any. Really good view and not insanely crowded. Lots of people camp out all day to reserve a spot on the bridge, or in the park. I really don't see how it is worth it. Guess The Family were in the park on the other side of the hill. In a place people start sitting on blankets at noon or earlier.
Cool thing: this sculpture, an icon of the city, at street level... I asked a couple people that lived here their whole lives and they didn't know either. This whole block has an under-ground 4 level parking garage under it. This was my third time parking almost directly under this sculpture, and I never knew. I came out a bus-stop looking booth and it felt like the beginning of Get Smart. Government garage. First time I parked there the whole city was crowded, garages were all full. I swear I had the only car on the entire level. Like something out of a movie. This time there were a bunch of other cars, but not as many as you would expect this close to an event with that many people.
Weird thing: Walking back to the car. Doing a good job of not running into people in the middle of thousands of them. Didn't feel any crowd-anxiety the entire night. My main fear down-town is not being able to find my car. Sounds stupid, and never actually had a problem... it gets in my head when I am parking several blocks from an event that I often have a hard time finding my car at the grocery store which is one lot directly in front of the store. (This is a slight exaggeration... I sometimes have a 'ermahgerd where did I park in this time?' moment while walking one row over from where I actually parked.)
That wasn't the 'weird thing': As I was saying, doing a good job of not running into people. Eight foot wide group of people walking in the same direction at the same pace. I looked to my right for a few steps. Down the street. Making sure I am going the right way. I heard an 'excuse me.' not an angry one, more of a 'sorry about that' mixed with a smile. I quickly stopped and looked slightly left then turned back a little. Girl that tried to cut cross-ways through the thick mob of people, who were going one direction, was right there. My forehead just over my left eye gently touched just next to her right. Only a quick moment in time, but it was what I will call: The least-awkward unintentional complete stranger hug ever. It lasted about two full seconds and we were both smiling. I felt her breath on my face. There were fireworks... (well not literally that second. But, statistically speaking, there easily could have been.) And then she was gone. If you ask me what she looked like or even what she was wearing... all I could say is her eyes were brown.
It felt so normal that I wondered whether she did it on purpose. Then I think "Why would she have?" Which leads a list of answers: She is single and wanted my attention. On a dare or bet. Pick-pocket artist, but failed this attempt. There were more, but can't remember them now. Sure it was an accident. How does one get an accidental hug better than 96.5% of the intentional ones through their lifetime?
Basically, I was supposed to go to work. I was about to. Then realized; It is a nice day. Work is not going to be busy. Didn't have anything to do at work that can't wait. I haven't been feeling appreciated at work anyway. Fireworks are tonight.
So I called and ask if they felt they really needed me. Then I called The Wife about four times to see where they were. She 'didn't hear her phone.' I went downtown. Walked across the bridge. Through the park both ways. Walked the river paths (we had been sitting at river level or under bridges for the last few years.) Not necessarily looking for the family, odds were against that, but anyone I knew. Ran into Shift Manager and her Fiance. Ended up sitting alone under the Varnum building.
Didn't bother me any. Really good view and not insanely crowded. Lots of people camp out all day to reserve a spot on the bridge, or in the park. I really don't see how it is worth it. Guess The Family were in the park on the other side of the hill. In a place people start sitting on blankets at noon or earlier.
Cool thing: this sculpture, an icon of the city, at street level... I asked a couple people that lived here their whole lives and they didn't know either. This whole block has an under-ground 4 level parking garage under it. This was my third time parking almost directly under this sculpture, and I never knew. I came out a bus-stop looking booth and it felt like the beginning of Get Smart. Government garage. First time I parked there the whole city was crowded, garages were all full. I swear I had the only car on the entire level. Like something out of a movie. This time there were a bunch of other cars, but not as many as you would expect this close to an event with that many people.
Weird thing: Walking back to the car. Doing a good job of not running into people in the middle of thousands of them. Didn't feel any crowd-anxiety the entire night. My main fear down-town is not being able to find my car. Sounds stupid, and never actually had a problem... it gets in my head when I am parking several blocks from an event that I often have a hard time finding my car at the grocery store which is one lot directly in front of the store. (This is a slight exaggeration... I sometimes have a 'ermahgerd where did I park in this time?' moment while walking one row over from where I actually parked.)
That wasn't the 'weird thing': As I was saying, doing a good job of not running into people. Eight foot wide group of people walking in the same direction at the same pace. I looked to my right for a few steps. Down the street. Making sure I am going the right way. I heard an 'excuse me.' not an angry one, more of a 'sorry about that' mixed with a smile. I quickly stopped and looked slightly left then turned back a little. Girl that tried to cut cross-ways through the thick mob of people, who were going one direction, was right there. My forehead just over my left eye gently touched just next to her right. Only a quick moment in time, but it was what I will call: The least-awkward unintentional complete stranger hug ever. It lasted about two full seconds and we were both smiling. I felt her breath on my face. There were fireworks... (well not literally that second. But, statistically speaking, there easily could have been.) And then she was gone. If you ask me what she looked like or even what she was wearing... all I could say is her eyes were brown.
It felt so normal that I wondered whether she did it on purpose. Then I think "Why would she have?" Which leads a list of answers: She is single and wanted my attention. On a dare or bet. Pick-pocket artist, but failed this attempt. There were more, but can't remember them now. Sure it was an accident. How does one get an accidental hug better than 96.5% of the intentional ones through their lifetime?