here, there, and everywhere

it all started . . . last spring, i guess. i was coming back from grabbing a slice at two boots when i noticed this very tall, intriguing guy. he held a camera in one hand and a dollar bill in the other. and perhaps the most intriguing thing about him? i found him attractive. and i'd seen him before.

so i crossed the street. with that bit of trivial knowledge. thinking nothing of it. until i found myself standing shoulder to . . . elbow with him. and awkwardly peered at him out of the corner of my eye.

until suddenly he stopped me.

he asked if he could take my picture while he handed me a dollar bill. the catch being that i had to keep the dollar. i looked at him inquisitively. he explained that he was doing a sociological experiment. to see how many people would take the dollar. so i proceeded to have my picture taken and begrudgingly took his dollar.

we were still walking in the same direction so i continued to ask him about his experiment and how successful he'd been. but then . . . we parted ways. i turned into brevin's for a drink to go with my slice. he headed straight, no doubt to find others to whom he could offer his dollars.

i was slightly saddened. curious if i should've swapped that dollar for a phone number. but chalked it up to one of those missed connections. new york moments. sidewalk encounters.

and yet . . .

since then i have seen him 3 other times. and each time in different neighborhoods.

once it was about 1AM on the Lower East Side. and he just happened to pass me on the sidewalk as i was leaving one show to head to another.

the other 2 times were actually on the same day! today. once over at astor place as i headed to the wine shop around noon. and later in the afternoon in my own neighborhood of the west village.

that kind of thing always surprises me.

8 million people in this city, and i see this guy.

kinda makes me wonder if i should have said "hi"

or . . .

"i think we should know each other. because you're cute. and you seem quirky. and you gave me a dollar once."