Late Valentine's Day message...

Crank

On the way home from the library, I spotted this fellow rounding a corner onto 39th Street. He stopped to collect himself and maybe even talk to himself. That much I couldn't see. But I did get out my camera phone and when I pulled alongside him, I lowered the passenger window and asked him if I could take his photograph. He held still while I shot this photo. But I could hear him mumbling about how he was out that day to earn some street money, and he said something to himself about dinner. I gave him a buck -- hey, it was that or a $20. I didn't discuss it with him because I know which he would have chosen and he would have complained even louder than he did. Which he did. I should have told him that if he'd had a real guitar and was really grateful for the attention I might have really given him some money. Guess he was less into the serendipity than I was. Imagine that.

The beauty and the ravages

How can some of the most beautiful things also be the most aggravating. Take these flowers. They have tree pollen on them. How do I know? Because on the way to the flower petals their good neighbor pollen has made it to my nose, to the insides of my house and made my life far less enjoyable. The beauty and the ravages of nature.