November, 2007
Bus stop at 3rd & Pine
Downtown Seattle, Washington

A man approaches me: late 30s, greasy dark hair, red scabbed nose, twitchy. He holds a clipboard full of tattered papers.

“Hey, we’re just taking a survey. How many people do you live with?”
“Just me,” I answer.
He nods, still twitching, “Oh, okay, okay. Do you make at least $3000 a month?”
I chuckle. “No, I wish I did.”
He doesn’t smile. “Okay, um, do you believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman?”
“No…” Where is this going?
He nods hurriedly, “Okay, good, you’re like us.”
Not very like, I hope.
He continues, sounding nervous, “We’re trying to do some fundraising, just a nickel or dime would help if you have it.” He hands me a slip of paper with printed writing, and I read the first line: IN CHINA AND KOREA, THEY EAT DOGS AND CATS!

“What are you raising money for, exactly?”
He’s earnest as he says, “We’re trying to save dogs and cats! Because in China and Korea they eat dogs and cats, and we’re trying to stop it.”
I notice there’s a URL on the slip, and tell him I’ll check out the website.
“Okay,” he says uncertainly. “We’re just trying to save dogs and cats, y’know?”
My bus pulls up. “That’s very admirable.”
As I step onto the bus, he calls after me.

“Also we’re trying to make alcohol illegal, because it’s really bad for you.”

January 21, 2010
The Newsstand at Third & Pike
Downtown Seattle, Washington

I’m hungry by the time I get downtown after my fiddle lesson, so I get off the bus at Third and Pike and visit the little newsstand on the corner. They’ve got popcorn, coffee, and pretzels now, but I only have one hand free. While he scoops up my popcorn, he asks what’s in the case.
“It’s a violin.” Some people get confused if you call it a fiddle, I’ve noticed.
“Hey, that’s cool! Have you seen that ad with the guy playing really really fast?”
We chat briefly about the difference between violins and fiddles, and how Charlie Daniels is one of the best fiddle players ever.
“Not better than Robot Devil on Futurama, though,” he says. “He’s the best fiddle player ever!”
I take the popcorn, give him my dollar, and say, “Well, there’s some say the devil’s the best fiddle player there is, but my money’s on Charlie Daniels.”

He chuckles as I walk away.