After several days of seemingly-nonstop winter rain, The Old Pueblo is graced once again with its trademark sunshine. Like so many Tucsonans, I have come out on this Sunday afternoon to do some shopping at one of the malls. My purchases made, I sit at Tohono Tadai Transit Center, patiently awaiting the next bus headed south toward the university.
I am typically a quiet, nondescript, essentially unnoticed person, one who observes and listens discreetly, taking note of the surroundings and the people who inhabit them at any given moment in time. Today is no different. I wear comfortable clothes – shoes, socks, jeans, t-shirt, and flannel shirt – and sit on one of the blue-painted metal park-style benches, my Software, Etc., bag beside me as I watch the passersby from behind my dark sunglasses.
Typically, there is not much of interest happening here. Occasionally, a person or group will stand out amongst the others, capturing my attention for a scant few seconds. It may be due to an unusual tattoo design, or the writing on one's clothing, or simply the way someone walks. If that person sees me at all, it is a quick glance that comes in my direction, sweeps over me, and moves on to other, more interesting people or things behind me. That suits me just fine – I prefer to be in the "background" anyhow.
Being in the "background," especially when my eyes are hidden behind the sunglasses, allows me to admire discreetly. It is very much true that Americans are as a group getting larger and larger, and I have certainly noticed that over the past ten years I have lived in this small city; yet this fact makes certain people stand out even more.
...like her.
