It had been raining for, pretty much, the whole day. Interestingly though, it didn't seem to be gloomy and depressing but more like those little drops of liquid sunshine we'd been told so much about as children. It seemed to truly be about renewal and re-purposed use of the space. Why think negatively about it, right?
Truth be told, it was the start of a new experience for me. I was embarking on new experiences - as I have been on a daily here in New York. The rain merely mirrored my thoughts on the day and all the happenings within my life since my arrival here - it had been a continuous refreshing of my mind and spirit so that I could be better prepared to live in each moment.
As I left the restaurant, the rain had not subsided. As I strolled down the Brooklyn streets, I found myself singing in the rain (in my mind, that is). I called my parents to tell them of my day. I was sure I'd be on the phone with my mom for a little while, so I stopped in the doorway of a closed store to shield myself from the rain. I was dressed rather business casual (but with VWayne appeal) but nothing too flashy. I was knee-deep in a discussion on the virtues of maintaining a positive attitude in life when he approached me.
He was an attractive older Caucasian (is that a PC term anymore?) gentlemen - perhaps late 30s to mid 40s. He wore khaki slacks, the long sleeves of his plaid shirt were rolled up, a gray sweater tied around his waist, dark brown shoes, and a seemingly matching dark brown messenger bag across his chest.
He seemed to walk toward me as if he knew me - quickly down the street, then slowing when he was about 5 feet or so away. I wasn't standing very far from the subway, so I assumed he was making his way into the station. I didn't pay much attention but still noticed his movements - being cognizant of my surroundings is, after all, my favorite pastime.
He made eye contact and smiled. Of course, I've been taught to be cordial so I flashed him a polite smile and continued my conversation. (these pleasantries may stop going forward) A couple moments passed and I realized he was still hovering within that same 3-5 foot radius around the door I was in. He smiled again. A curious smile appeared on my face.
What he did next freaked me out a bit and opened my eyes to a phenomenon women talk about all the time. On his 3rd or 4th trip past me, I watched him remove a gold band from his fourth finger, left hand before placing it into his brown messenger bag. I did my best to disguise my disgust - both on my face and in my voice while I was speaking with my mother. The sheer fact that he continued to slowly circle me as if I were chum in the sea and he was some sort of great white shark bothered me already. Add to this that he basically tied a bib around his neck before going in for his meal, well ... yea.
I ended the conversation with my mother "good night, I love you. Kiss my dad." I could tell he assuredly saw this as his opportunity. He turned toward me with a smile (significantly wider than those prior) and raised eyebrows. I figured the thoughts in his mind had something to do with the bulge he then sported within his khakis and how he might use me to assist him with this. I can't imagine the level of disappointment he must have felt as I walked right past him without acknowledgment. As I descended into the subway, I assume there was a great deal of deflation in his ego, not to mention his pants. Sucks to be him.
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I survived my first cruising experience in New York. While it may not have had the happy ending most might expect from such an encounter, it was still worth going through at all.
