Public Transit

More often now, I've been riding on the Metro Red Line to get to work and back. The convenience of having it very close to where I live, for the past two places I've lived, allows me to leave my car behind and forget the stresses of traffic and finding parking in downtown. There's always been strange characters on the train, but my most recent encounter inspired this post.

On the Red Line, there's a short Asian lady wearing glasses, who's older with black hair, that goes around asking for donations for the homeless. I believe in charity, and hate to poke fun at this, but the way she asks is so distinctively amusing in her heavy Asian accent. And she doesn't miss a person.

"Wud yu liiike to donate to homeless peepo, sar? Wud yu? Wud yu?"

She gets in your face. She stares at you harshly and points at your face when she asks, "Would you?" She touched my bike.

I guess her tactics work though. I saw her get off the train and count the cash people gave her. I walked on with my ravished bike in hand.

The People I Meet #5: Film Alcoholic

Yesterday, a little before 11am, I hear playful, but violent knocking on the door. Stef had just left for work, so I was all alone. The knocking continued, and by habit, I got up and peeked through the peephole. It was a face I recognized so I opened the door. A waft of heavy alcohol came through the opening.

"Hey! You're not Stefan..." he says, confused as all hell.
"No, he's at work right now," I said, terrified to say any more.
"Oh! Uh, there's something I wanted him to help me with, you see, I'm working on a movie..."

Of course. Only in LA would someone completely drunk before 11am, come to my door and talk about working in movies. After more awkward conversation, I told him I would tell Stef about his visit and to call him. He agreed, turned toward the stairs, and left.

I hope he is okay out there in the world.