September 05, 2007 11:57 PM

Years ago, I saw a man with a long white beard and long white hair wearing heavy boots and animal pelts around his shoulders walking down my neighborhood street. He walked slowly and carried a large club. Yes, a club. Like a barbarian. And considering it was also in the hot summer, the animal pelts and boots looked particularly disturbing. I was reminded of this today when much to my astonishment I saw him again! This time he was two streets away from mine and he was carrying something other than a club and he was not wearing animal pelts. He was wearing a cotton shirt and baggy trousers but it was the same man. He was carrying what looked like a glass orb in his hand and he held it in front of his face. He shook his head rapidly and gazed into the orb as he slowly and deliberately walked.