I am definitely not the only one. I can see it in people’s eyes walking towards me. The dread.  A woman dead ahead. There is a canvasser between us, and thankfully for me his eyes are facing the other way.  I can squeak by unscathed, as the woman mumbles a sorry, or fidgets with her phone or simply ignores the canvasser.  As I slide by he quickly tries to get my attention but it is too late.

We all know that dance, that silly urban sidewalk dance.  And I know I am not the only one that hates it.  ”Dont you care about the children?!?!” “Did you know the whales are ALL DYING?!?!”  ”WE HAVE NO MORE FREAKING RAINFORESTS AND WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!”  The last thing I need is to have someone remind me about all the shitty things on earth while I am walking down the street.  I already internalize all this crap in my mind: I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE IN A GREEDY ORGY OF OUR OWN CONSUMPTION.  Thanks, I get it.  Thats why I am walking down the street - to get away from my computer for one iota of a second.

Now let me listen to my iPod in peace!