Spotted during recent travels in the Boston area [see entry of November 5]:
-- On a Green Line tram, 10:30 a.m.:
Three 20-somethings -- the first a chunky woman in jeans and a black leotard top, doing all the talking for the trio, at a volume tailored to be heard by everyone within 25 feet. She spoke of exasperating interactions with friends, talking exclusively to the second member of the trio, a tall, quiet, gentle-looking, rail-thin male with hair pointing in every direction and a harelip. The third of the three: another tall, thin male, head shaven except for small circles of short hair -- some dyed blue, some dyed pink -- creating an interesting polka-dot effect. He had the most aggressive-feeling energy of the three, sporting new-looking duds in a vaguely Ziggy Stardust vein with shiny black army boots, and had either recently taken a serious fall or been on the losing end of a fight -- dried blood smeared the lower half of his face, some from abrasions, some having streamed from his nose. A jarring visual he made no effort to conceal.
Ziggy sat down while the other two stood, defiantly taking up two seats on the jammed-to-capacity tram, until a diminutive, elderly woman moved in his direction and he got awkwardly to his feet, offering her and her elderly companion the seats. The woman, startled by the vision that confronted her, remained momentarily transfixed by all the dried blood, mouth open, before nodding a thank-you and seating herself.
-- On the shuttle bus from the airport subway station to the American Airlines terminal, 5 p.m.:
A 30ish male, all visible skin up to his jawline and out to his hands covered by a continuous mass of brightly-hued tattoos that boiled out from his shirt collar and rolled-up cuffs. Eye-catching, hard to ignore once noticed, and he seemed to be sharply aware of when his densely-drawn body art had drawn attention, meeting the observer's eyes then looking quickly, uncomfortably away.
We humans: ever fascinating, each one a walking universe with stories deserving to be told.
**************
This evening in the city center, Madrid:
Madrid, te quiero.
rws 7:56 AM [+]
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