In the seat behind the driver, for persons with mobilité réduite,
at first he seems like yet another old person on a half-full bus in
this mid-morning hour, when the elderly venture out on errands while
the sun is highest and the wind less bitter. He wears an old black fur
hat, a dun-colored knee-length jacket of some smooth material and
dubious warmth; corduroy trousers; boots. Between his legs, in a sturdy
gym bag imprinted with the logo of a local radio station, is a large
but dated computer CPU. Perhaps it's broken and he's taking it for
repairs...I speculate as we pass the auto-glass and used-appliance
shops along Papineau. But his face! Cascades of curling grey hair,
tinged with the red that used to color it; a long beard; a wide gap
between his front teeth, or perhaps one is missing; red-rimmed eyes
that gaze calmly out the window opposite; sensitive hands with long
fingers resting calmly on the top of his baggage. On one wrist, a
watch; on the other, a bracelet made of small interlocking hearts of
gold and silver metal. A deeply-lined face, and down one cheek, from
eyebrow to jaw, a vertical scar that looks like it was made by a saber.
He walks out of Tolstoy, stands up and exits at rue Marie-Anne.
This is one of my favourite things about living in the city and taking public transit - people watching. There are so many interesting people to watch and wonder what their lives are like. The image of his red-tinged hair stands out the most to me - such a vivid description!
There is one person whom I saw in the subway who stands out in my memory. I wrote about him last spring: http://dialogueswithsilence.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/in-transit/
Posted by: Avery | February 12, 2010 at 05:31 PM
I love seeing the world through your eyes, Beth.
Posted by: Kim | February 12, 2010 at 09:39 PM
Great last line. Was it snowing?
Posted by: Peter | February 12, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Kia ora Beth,
Wow, what a great moment you describe Beth. I agree whole heartedly with Kim.
Aroha,
Robb
Posted by: Robb | February 13, 2010 at 01:50 AM
the more we interact with the world, the more we see.
seems self-evident. but sealed up in our cars and homes, we forget this.
Posted by: laurie | February 15, 2010 at 08:35 AM
(o)
Posted by: dale | February 15, 2010 at 08:41 AM