“...hangout with all the boys…”
I have been an observer of people for as long as I can remember and I no longer attempt to understand what motivates these individuals, but attempt to glean what I can from their appearance and behavior.
“Hm...nice triceps...oh, nice lats…”
Today I found myself particularly adept at discerning the astrological signs of Taco Bell's patrons. Since I have been doing this game for so many years, I was taken back when I was proceeding from person to person with little forethought.
“...the upper arms look huge...’cause the T-shirt is too small…”
When restaurants started inquiring for my name, I was annoyed because unless one is writing a large personal check or are employed by Homeland Security, my name is not relevant and I’m content to be identified by a number.
“Oh, he works out...nice pecs…”
In light of the Homeland Security Department comment, some readers may believe I am paranoid.
“He is tall...fire or air?.."
While I am a private person, I realized that few people will listen for names because of idle curiosity. My annoyance with this modern practice ended because I could know another detail about my subjects that possibly eludes even themselves. The fact that I was initially enrolled in the Agricultural Department at University was not lost on me, and I transferred to the Life Sciences Department.
"...fire or air?...wearing pants, not shorts...not a Leo...”
I put no faith in Astrology, since I have experienced the overall validity and its few shortcomings. Unlike Decius Mundi, I will place some value on names and the occult or philological meaning of names is either hit or miss and in my experience there are more misses. But since we exist in a strange Universe, I can not discount the seeming randomness of names.
“Thomas, your order is ready.”
“Hmm..a Gemini. Why didn't I know that?”
The smugness of conceit quickly fades.