grey
Posted on Mar 9th, 2006
by 
antenna
antenna
I went to the courthouse today to file a DBA. Lucky girl that I am, I'd never been to the county court before. It was such a grey building inside and out.
It was a funny feeling to be there. I did set off the metal detector- which was a first. It seemed to be my legs- my calves specifically- that made things flash and beep. I hiked up my pants legs and got scanned by the guard again. I tried to laugh with him over the absurdity of the whole thing- what was it about my bare legs that was causing such a ruckus? He wouldn't laugh. He shooed me in.
I got lost. There were so many people there but no one to ask. No signs. I finally cornered a surprised business-y man. He directed me to the basement. I walked past a snack bar surrounded by cops and a room full of tables crowded with busy people in suits talking with great concentration. I went down a rumbly elevator.
The basement was also grey. So were the people working there. I laughed out loud over the giant fairy tale book the clerk whapped up on to the counter (and at the cloud of actual dust that poofed up). I searched back to 1953 in the book but no one else had claimed my business name. The grey man who helped me was slow and kind and startled when I looked at his face. He was so faded and muted but his wedding ring gleamed like it was brand new, the gold braid on it sparkling as he showed me where to sign. As he directed me upstairs to the cashier, he wished me good luck with my new business. He smiled for a second but then turned grey again as he resumed his work.
The cashiers office had a row of benches, a TV with the sound off and a loudspeaker announcing which cashier would take the next in line. I chatted with the surprised people who waited with me. Some chatted back.
The cashier didn't look up at all, even when she wished me 'aniceday'.
I couldn't have dreamed a more surreal experience if I'd tried. It made me realize how colorful my daily life tends to be and how often people make eye contact, smile, and talk in my world. I'm a lucky person to be so sheltered most of the time from the greyness of buildings. I'm hoping all the people in the courthouse have colorful lives to go home to and people who look up and smile at them when they get there.
As I breezed past the metal detector on my way out, the guard who had scanned my alarming legs glanced my way... and winked.
It was a funny feeling to be there. I did set off the metal detector- which was a first. It seemed to be my legs- my calves specifically- that made things flash and beep. I hiked up my pants legs and got scanned by the guard again. I tried to laugh with him over the absurdity of the whole thing- what was it about my bare legs that was causing such a ruckus? He wouldn't laugh. He shooed me in.
I got lost. There were so many people there but no one to ask. No signs. I finally cornered a surprised business-y man. He directed me to the basement. I walked past a snack bar surrounded by cops and a room full of tables crowded with busy people in suits talking with great concentration. I went down a rumbly elevator.
The basement was also grey. So were the people working there. I laughed out loud over the giant fairy tale book the clerk whapped up on to the counter (and at the cloud of actual dust that poofed up). I searched back to 1953 in the book but no one else had claimed my business name. The grey man who helped me was slow and kind and startled when I looked at his face. He was so faded and muted but his wedding ring gleamed like it was brand new, the gold braid on it sparkling as he showed me where to sign. As he directed me upstairs to the cashier, he wished me good luck with my new business. He smiled for a second but then turned grey again as he resumed his work.
The cashiers office had a row of benches, a TV with the sound off and a loudspeaker announcing which cashier would take the next in line. I chatted with the surprised people who waited with me. Some chatted back.
The cashier didn't look up at all, even when she wished me 'aniceday'.
I couldn't have dreamed a more surreal experience if I'd tried. It made me realize how colorful my daily life tends to be and how often people make eye contact, smile, and talk in my world. I'm a lucky person to be so sheltered most of the time from the greyness of buildings. I'm hoping all the people in the courthouse have colorful lives to go home to and people who look up and smile at them when they get there.
As I breezed past the metal detector on my way out, the guard who had scanned my alarming legs glanced my way... and winked.
Access: Public
consciousness
August 2007
Ooh, I love this! Your colorful appearance is helping to brighten up even the greyest places! Your description of the people in gray reminds me of a beloved book called “Momo” by Michael Ende… it’s a children’s book, but it’s got the most amazing way of describing how people can find themselves lost in the grayness of life… and how we can find out way back again.
I like the wink.
Hi,
I liked the wink, too, Eve!
Hi, Cynthia (nice to meet you!). I’m not sure it’s that I brought anything out in them, I think I was just lucky (and relieved) enough to catch those quick flashes and twinkles of what they really are. I find the grey unnerving and daunting because I have so little experience with it, I guess. It’s reassuring to know that there are still gleaming wedding rings and winking security guards in there to liven things up from time to time.