Take a Calcium Supplement or Something

Last week I was waiting to catch the 38 up to the office and there was a blind woman waiting at the stop who needed to get up to Larkin. When the bus arrived everyone else got on but out of instinct I waited to help the woman onto the bus. She struggled on the steps, but I finally got her situated and told the bus driver where to let her off. I didn’t really think much about what I had done so it surprised me when an older man came up to me and told me that he appreciated my gesture. I still don’t know what it was about this man, but he was very profound in his presence; I could see him being my grandfather the way he spoke to me. You could tell this stemmed from the fact that he saw himself in me and he often said, “When I was your age…”

While I never was able to catch his name, I know today is his 75^th birthday so I figured I would mention him in my blog. We only spoke for about 10 minutes but he provided me with plenty of advice. “Don’t drink soda”

“Always kiss your mother before you leave the house”

“Don’t talk to strangers” (Exceedingly ironic)

“Sugar is a drug, and like all drugs, sugar is bad”

“Live to be my age and you will be impressed how the most trivial things become interesting”

“Your body needs milk—but milk is for babies, take a calcium supplement or something”

It was nice talking to talk to somebody on my commute, I think it is ridiculous that we all ride the same trains, sit next to the same people, and never talk to each other. Why can’t we just be a little more social on the train? Last night this guy sitting behind me engaged this one woman in a conversation about the book she was reading, she seemed almost shocked! I guess such a conversation was unprecedented to her.

Just a simple question—Why don’t all of us Caltrain riders engage in conversation?

Why Are Vegans Always So Angry?

…Because they are hungry! –Margaret Cho

I thought it was almost too perfect that Margaret Cho made this joke in a comedy routine I was watching last night. Okay, so I am not a vegan nor am I particularly angry; however, I do find myself rather hungry and it is only one day into this little apple shindig. I consumed 8 apples yesterday and while I have limited my diet to one item, I have in fact diversified my apple gamut. As an ex-courtesy clerk at an upscale grocery store (Got to love the title—I was a bag boy) I thought I had a pretty wide knowledge of esoteric produce and foodstuff but, all the different apple varieties have really surprised me. Fuji, golden delicious and granny smith make way! I am eating pink ladies, ambrosia and braeburn apples now… Delicious!

While this whole experience has been challenging thus far, yesterday I saw a mother and son duo who really gave me a much needed boost. This kid was maybe 10 years old, holding a big mac and was the epitome of America’s fast food culture, think real life hamburglar. Everything from his appearance to his diet was so disappointing I just wanted to give him an apple or two, heck 3 days worth, he needed it! The weird thing is, I almost felt selfish watching him. Here I am eating apples for some personal dare inspired by a spam email when this kid could really benefit from it—oh well, there are still people dying in Burma and soldiers in Iraq, my empathy can be better spent elsewhere. Nonetheless, I dedicate my apple fast to that little boy on the 49 bus going down the Mission. If you ever see this, I liked the book you got at the library on pandas. Also the word you asked your mom how to pronounce is in fact “indigenous” not “in-dig-us” as your mom so casually butchered it… It’s the least I can do.

Already half way through my challenge and staying strong!