Prepare thyself...

I'm currently listening to: "I Want a New Duck" by Weird Al Yankovic

I've a tale to tell...

It's been a while since I had walked home from the bus, and today wasn't going to be any different. Well, not until I saw the shuttle pulling out of the station/loop while I was talking to an acquaintance of mine. We both ran, but I didn't notice something slipping from my bag as I boarded the bus. He had moved a whole four feet and across traffic when I saw that my bookbag seemed much lighter than usual. The driver let me off the first chance he got, so I waited for the light to change, then dashed across the street.

There, on the ground, was my Phantom of the Opera sweatshirt. (Sure, I had bought it at a garage sale, but it still holds a deep meaning to me!) Swearing at it, I realized I had two options at hand. I could:
A) Wait around for an hour or so lacking money, enjoying the fact that I have my sweatshirt back...
or
B)Bite the bullet and hoof it.

Well, the temperature seemed warm enough. A deep breath in- A deep breath out... no steam clouds. Walking it was.

I readjusted my bag for comfort, tilted my leapoard-print umbrella over my shoulder, and wandered forth. Across the lightly flowing River Des Peres... across a street, next to a cemetary. For some reason, my eyes turned up towards Essex Industries on the opposite side of the street. I could see an executive office inside, blinds half-tilted to keep out the sun. Next to it was a board room- chairs facing away from me at a long table. The windows were tinted, giving the rooms a very monotone, shadowy look.

My chin dropped, my legs stopped, and my mind wandered onward. How many other people, I wondered, have seen that board room besides me. And for that matter, how many of them were from companies outside of Essex. I'm sure that some would have been for consultations- others for simple conversations.

Silly speculations, in retrospect. But am I the only one to have been passing by Essex and seen it like that?

Now I'm back at home. Yes, I did have to remove my coat, and no, I don't have the chills. It's just like last year, really. Only not as cold yet. After all, it is perfect weather for wandering.