Faux Pass

Saturday afternoon I decided to venture down or uptown to take photos of Lake Cities buildings, in the hope of aligning them later with old photos from Florida Memory, overlaying them. Past and present. My first stop was Railroad Street and the crossing and old depot. I ventured up and down, near Alachua Street where the free soup kitchen is for the down and outs. Sure enough, around the corner came a burley white man, late twenties, asking for a cigarette. Then asking what was I taking a picture of? I really needed to answer as he started babbling words unconnected and trying to walk too close to me as I made my way back to the car. He knew he was razzing me for he said hey, where you going? To take more photos! I went on down closer to the lake where less of these types hang out. But, here came a lady asking what was I doing? When I told her she asked if I was in the gallery and when I said who I was, knew me. She even said what was I thinking putting the hat picture in? I said, you never know. She said on Tuesday she was going to bring her drawings to be juried. You never know. That cocky, street bravado street confidence. I wished her well. Who knows, I may of been talking to the homeless descendant of Monet.

I learned that if I was to frequent downtown, to carry some cigarettes or tokens, to keep near the car and to watch my back. Or wear a meter reading outfit!