The Thinking Man

I unchained myself from my desk today to take lunch to a place without ringing telephones, glaring computer screens and nervous people clicking their pens while speaking. These annoyances happen most every day but the sights and sounds seem always to be amplified on Mondays. Today was no different of a Monday. So, I wanted to escape and grabbed a salad from the fridge to head away from the all too familiar pressure pit.

A few minutes later I found myself in the Crystal Court, a covered public area with gardens and a minimal but sufficient amount of greenery and fountains. It is a quiet place and the crashing fountains lend a natural hush over the entire space. I go there often to escape the blur of my office. It is a place full of an endless variety of people all there for one simple reason. It is as serene and peaceful as the center of the city can get. The air is always refreshing and the light is always comforting. It is an oasis.

As I sat a park bench, my attention constantly shifted between my lunch and the controls on the Fuji around my neck. I am still baffled by some of its programming though I think the issue is me and not it. And rather than watch the online training video, it is far more "fun" to try and fail and curse the gods at my own lack of comprehension.

As I looked up, a man was newly situated on the bench across from mine, and he began to speak to me. The conversation went something like this:

"New camera"
I nodded yes
"Fancy"
I agreed with a smile and a nod

I put my attention back to my salad and, then, back to my camera but not completely to those items. My mind continued to think about my neighbor that had moved in about ten minutes earlier. His body and its features where that of a Greek god, filling more than half of a three person bench. His facial hair likely contained tales untold and, yet, he did not have to speak for those around him to understand he was unique and proud and contemplative. His hands were those the size of a lumberjack and his shoulders those of Atlas. He was forceful in appearance yet poised and gentle in presence. He moved slowly and gracefully which defied the physical size of his body. While his beard was burly, he had kind eyes and a soft voice. He was captivating and animated and a joy to observe.

The conversation then continued.....
"What do you photograph?"
"People, animals, flowers, the sky...most anything?", I responded
"Hmmmm"
At this point I had to ask, "may I take your picture?", elevating my voice at the end of my question like an inhibited child.
"If you want, BUT no close ups"
"Agreed", I said

I blipped a few and then asked...."Will you look into the camera?" and quickly received a negative shake of the head in response. It was at this point that he assumed the the look of "the thinking man". And he held the position for several minutes and until long after I had set down my camera and resumed my lunch.

Several more minutes passed on and we both sat there quietly aware of each other but respectful of the similar boundaries which existed. We had both gone to a place of reflection and solitude. At the end of my lunch, we shook hands and exchanged names. As I raced back to the office, I looked back to realize he had resumed the thinking man position. I too was thinking. Thinking that I was lucky to have met him.