Staring

The other night I sat alone for a while writing at a cafe on a somewhat busy street corner. It was evening commute time. At the same time, pedestrians were busy with their evening jogs and dog walks. The sidewalks and streets buzzed with activity.

What fascinated me was watching people in the cars stare at people jogging and walking their dogs. Car after car turned the corner and, as the drivers stared, their tires scraped the curb or they barely missed the car facing them waiting to turn. To add to the chaos, a few talked on their phone while they stared - and tried to drive. Those people were a real disaster.

I sat there and laughed. When my friend arrived, he didn't notice, but I pointed out each driver who stared.

Why does it take so little to catch someone's stare? Do they think we don't notice? Are we that starved for entertainment? Do we have to have visual stimulation every second? How would they feel if that girl being gawked at was their girl friend or wife or daughter? Or maybe they're all so obnoxious they don't have any girls in their lives.

Then the next morning while I jogged, a truckload of landscapers drove up the street next to me. The truck moved exactly at my speed - and I only do about 6.4 mph - not exactly the speed a truck would normally drive. They did this for about two blocks. I refused to look over. One time they even stopped when they got ahead of me. That one was beyond annoying. It was just plain creepy.

Love to to the single girls,
Addison