what was that? is that all there is? who is this? this is it.

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elevator music up in your face

April 1, 2009


Stick around long enough and you’ll see some trends, patterns, repetitions. More of the same. Same as it ever was. Like the guy on the second floor blasting “April Fool” for April Fools Day, loud enough for the neighbors, who, if they were here last year or years before would know it’s been a family tradition since 1991 when some say Soul Asylum sold out.

Or, when building management at 1700 7th plays Christmas music in the elevators on April 1st.
This year, this time, today
it was appropriate because
Because it was fucking snowing

How ya like me now?

All up in my face

Personal space invaders
Elevator latte slurpers
Eye contact avoidance hesitation
Umbrella cell phone conversation
lunch hour clamshell migration

I’m invisible
but I see you       
everyday

you  
Not you
You
you’re not from around here

Wealthy tourist shoppers
Weak American dollars
Spring break bro bras   bro bra-ing
Flip-flops shorts strolling        bro     
Straight outta Corvallis

Optimism denial stupidity
Toughness callousness dontgiveafuckness
Ignorance is this

Focused intensity
Rain/Snow mix
Highs near 40   

 
Watching three stiffs attempt to hail a cab
Obviously from out of town
Underdressed well and toting rolling carry-ons
Polite hand gesturing from the doorway
of the Logan Building
but they will not step to the curb in the rain
Not to muss well coifed hair
Not to wet  wool suits
How bad do they want a cab?
What time is their flight?
Maybe they could, they should
go back inside and listen to that
Nik Kershaw song again     one more time     
Maybe they could harden the fuck up    and
walk 85 feet up to 6th Avenue
to the Cab stand
full of cabs standing
lined up like
Oranges and Lemons

Stepped on an elevator
 doors close behind me
turned to face front
Oblivious to my surroundings
up to a point
On another level
It’s a survival skill                      duh
Next to you  or  Next to my mom
I wouldn’t acknowledge you  or   her
then I hear
“I’d much rather have your job
over any office job”  
Slowly,  I exhale and rise to the surface
of the you-talkin-to-me-pond
coming up for air
Making eye contact
with a young attractive office worker  
staring at her
waiting for the next line
the punch line         the catch
Then I say
I don’t hear that much on days like this

She says
Take the good with the bad

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pilder said...

the Cheesecake Factory is that way bro

Posted April 3, 2009 09:02 AM | Reply to this comment

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