things i see on my way to work every day:

i have yet to see the same person twice on the bus. i've decided that the mass transit system alienates us all (except for the occasional glance and apology when the trains are very crowded) because we don't all take the 8:30 bus (or whatever time and transport applies). we take the 8:31 and the 8:33 and the 8:34... so even though all of us from the east side have to take the same buses and trains every morning, we never see each other twice. it's a strange phenomenon.

i pick up the free newspaper being handed out by the subway station. it's always the same woman who hands it to me. i've been smiling at her and saying thank you since the very first day (silly midwestern girl that i am). she now smiles back.

things i see on my way home from work every day:

there's a small pet store with big windows. they always have small puppies playing around or sleeping and there is always a crowd watching them. it almost makes me want to get a dog. but that would probably be a little much for our kittens.

there's a middle-aged man in a wheelchair who sits outside of starbucks and asks for money very politely. "every little bit helps" and that sort of thing.

there's a woman who stands in a darkened doorway. as people pass by, she says "chanel" and offers them a flyer. in the six months (more!) that i have been walking by, i have yet to take one. one night i heard her chatting in spanish with someone as i approached. i've wanted to say something to her since, but what is there to say? "hey, i speak spanish too! let's be best friends!" clearly speaking spanish all day has addled my brain. or i could just take a flyer.

of course, if i took every flyer offered to me, i would have ... well, a lot of flyers. some comedian once said that people who had out flyers are basically saying "here, you throw this away." at least if i take them, i recycle. :-)