Gauntlet of Humanity

Nov. 21, 2009

Powell and Market-
Not far from me, a man is locked in one of those self-cleaning restrooms San Francisco copied from Europe. He is screaming. Hardcore style, like Converge or Countervail. A group of tourists stopped to see if he was alright, but the mangy midsized smoker guy passing out flyers in front of the bathroom told them to go away, "Oh him? He is fine. Don't worry about him"
I wasn't worried
Walking here from my place is a gauntlet of humanity. Man talking to air. Women fighting over cans in the trash. Man holding up Snoop Dogg poster, "Isn't this beautiful? This is beautiful, just wonderful". "Got change?" "Bra, you got change?" "Hey, can I bum a cigarette of you?" Oh gross, human poop. I only live 2 blocks away, and those are only the things I failed to avoid. I forgot to mention the countless streams of urine that flow with the mortar lines on the brick sidewalk, from the walls of vacant buildings to Market Street. San Francisco's grand boulevard.
Midsized mangy smoker man with fliers is chasing the teen couple that just emerged from the escalator. "Wow, this is cool" says teen boyfriend. "we're late," says teen girlfriend. "I don't care, this is really cool." TARGET. Midsized Mangy Flier guy swoops in. HIT. You gotta move fast around here. Keep moving. Look deliberate. I put my hood on. I sing to myself. I keep my scruff. I am almost immune. Is that a good thing? hmm. Think about that. I am off to Walgreens to get some candy to sneak into the movies.