Aug 23, 2008

Everyday Oddities

Every once in a while, I write about the things that happen on the city bus that I ride to and from work. The ride home today included a singer, three candy sales people (one of which was under the age of 10 years), and the "low-light" of the ride was a man who shoved two 4 inch screwdrivers up his nose and was ready to go for a sideways insertion via the ears.

The man proudly proclaimed, "I can do this because I am not from here...I am from Arequipa!" Several people wondered out loud if this was a common phenomenon in of Southern Peru.

Everyone was cringing in anticipation. I had to stare at the floor when the first screwdriver started up into the apparently empty brain cavity. I glanced up once to see him passing down the bus aisle with both screwdriver handles on the end of his nose. I kind of wish I'd have had my camera, but I don't know if I could have looked at this guy long enough to take the picture. The woman in the seat next to me gagged softly and whispered a prayer. Several people crossed themselves as he passed by. One man offered to pay him 30 cents to leave and the bus driver invited the man to exit the bus at his earliest convenience. Apparently the offer of 30 cents was too much to pass up, because he very quickly took his leave after collecting the coinage.

I arrived home to find a small white carriage with a white pony waiting patiently outside my apartment building. I think it must have been something for a little girl's birthday, but I'm not sure. I went upstairs to get Celeste so she could "do her business" outside, and when we went out of the building, we stopped to admire the pretty white coach and the beautiful pony standing so patiently...and then the coach door opened and a man stepped out and began to put his clothes on.

Things like this make the hair go up on Celeste's back..and my hair stands on end every once in a while, too.

I guess it takes all kinds...

10 comments:

toady said...

That knocks the ride from Bideford to Barnstaple into a cocked hat. It takes all sorts. I'm intrigued to know more about the dressing up pony.

DJ Kirkby said...

Celeste is incredibly beautiful This post made me cringe and laugh, you sure live in a different world to England.

Faith said...

Goodness you have interesting things happen!

Norma Murray said...

Hmm! Makes village life in S.E. England seem very dull.

Frances said...

Hello from New York, where we can also see some hopefully unique sights on our daily commutes.

I just loved the casual way you began this posting, giving no clue as to what would follow.

Wonderful!
Happy knitting to you from a fellow knitter, who has such difficulty finding time to pick up my yarns and needles.

xo

Pondside said...

Oh, Kathleen I had to laugh out loud!! Having had the pleasure of riding in one of those buses with you I could imagine the scene - but the activity!!! What a strange man - I could feel the relief when he left! You certainly had quite a day between the man with the screwdriver and the nude carriage rider!

Kathleen said...

I've seen things here that I never imagined would happen in my everyday small town America. People here seem to be willing to nearly ANYTHING to make money. I figure I see these things because I'm now in a larger city than I've ever been in before, and maybe big cities just are places where one sees weird things.

Margaret Cloud said...

Well its a toss up for the bus or white carriage, ha ha ha, the only strange thing I ever saw on a bus is when the driver slammed on the brakes and a passenger in the front seat fell out and skidded across the bus floor on her behind, it really was not funny. I hope you take your camera with you on the next trip.

Wooly Works said...

I laughed out loud. The person who paid 30 cents to get rid of him got a bargain. I wonder if the woman on the bus was gagging and praying for him or for herself. Arequippa, center of the textile trade in Peru...I've never heard that it's residents are grossly vacuous. I guess you learn something everyday.

So what was the man doing in the Barbie doll carriage...?

Kathleen said...

Margaret, your comments came through! They're published.

I'm not sure I want to think about what the man may have been doing in the coach, but it is beyond me why he stepped out onto the street to put on his clothes. Some people have no modesty!