A Parking Lot of Perspective

August 8, 2007

Do you ever watch other people when they don’t know you’re watching?  No… I don’t mean in a creepy, hanging-around-outside-someone’s-window-while-they’re-getting-dressed kinda way, either.  I’m talking about good, old fashioned people watching.

One of the great things about living across the street from a strip mall (especially a strip mall with a bar in it) is that there always seems to be people around outside.  They go about their lives completely oblivious to the fact that dozens of other people could potentially be watching them from across the street.

Some folks take care of personal business:

• I’ve seen people pick their noses, butts, fronts, backs, ears… and everything in between.  I assume these people wouldn’t be digging in their cracks if they knew I watching.  But these days you can never be sure.
• I’ve seen people change clothes in their cars.  Again… not sure if that’s really something they wouldn’t do if I was around.

Some people carry on conversations with others:

• The shifty-leg side-steppers are my favorite.  These people run into someone they know on their way in or out of a store / the bar… and are forced to participate in small talk.  How do I know they’re “forced”… and how do I know it’s small talk?  Because they’re quite obviously shifting back and forth… anxiously waiting for a chance to bolt.  I’m not sure it’s as obvious from up close.  But from where I’m sitting… I can tell those people would rather be anywhere else.
• There are often large groups of people gathered outside the bar.  From my viewpoint I can almost always tell who’s talking because, just like schooling fish, all heads turn simultaneously toward the person leading the conversation.  Unless they’re drunk and belligerent I can’t usually hear them.  But I can almost follow the conversation around the group just by watching necks move.

Some people get a little intimate:

• Hugging, kissing, making out, and hood-humping are all common occurances… especially outside the bar… and especially at night.  I’m tempted to yell “get a room” across the street from the relative anonymity of my darkened apartment.  But I always talk myself out of spoiling their happy time.
• You can usually tell when two people are out on a date, too.  There’s the ritual procession out of the bar… the parking lot chit chat that follows… and the coveted goodnight kiss.  Sometimes you can even see the anxiousness as it builds to that point… uncomfortable shifting… nervous laughter… a failed attempt here and there.  Maybe I should start clapping and hooting and hollering from my balcony with the kiss is finally reached.  Or not.

I’m sure you’re probably wondering why I spend so much time watching other people.  As I’ve pointed out on more than one occasion, a lot of my time is spent in self-imposed solitary confinement.  Sometimes I sit on the balcony and read.  Sometimes I just sit, especially at night.  I love the view:  behind the strip mall rises the hospital… to the right lies a big, glassy fitness center and hospital extension… and to the left are trees, office buildings, and open sky.  So no matter which way I look, I get a different perspective.

The next time you’re somewhere anonymous - somewhere you won’t be spotted or noticed - just watch.  Sit and actually watch other people as they go about their lives.  I’m not sure how to explain it… but it really helps put things into perspective.  Most of the time we only think about what we’re doing.  When you see other people doing the same things you would normally only think about from your own perspective, it helps you to realize that you are but one person in a vast sea of others - different… yet still the same… still connected.

I dunno.  Maybe I’m crazy.  Or I could have just OD’d on headache medicine.  That’s a distinct possibility, too…

Posted in Human Nature, Personal, Society

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