downtown

Working in the city has a certain funky charm to it. By this I specifically mean the people that I encounter on a daily basis. I find myself being accosted regularly by people who, until they become aware of me, have been walking down the street engaging in self-conversation.
Now, I don't know if this is because Madison is an old holdout town from the 60's or if it is due to the nature of my long-hair style where they might decide that I'm 'one of them'. But I do seem to get approached more so than, say, your very attorney-esque person who happens to be standing 10 feet away.
Today I had a dude roll up to me cackling with obvious mirth. I assume he then attempted to deliver the storyline that was amusing him so much, but I couldn't understand a thing he said. It was like he had a mouth full of cat litter - a crunchy indecipherable noise with an occasional spitting motion out of the corner of his mouth. I handed him the cigarette I had just lit up, told him I had to cruise and went back into the building. Hey - I figure it pays to be nice to these folk since chances are fairly good that I'll be joining their ranks one day.