Story of the Day

The windows of the coffee shop in Powell's were steamed up because it was cold outside and the coffee, people, and the steamer kept the temperature and the humidity high in the room. When the humid air collided with the glass the windows steamed up. If it had been colder outside there would have been frost on the windows instead but it would still have been difficult to see through them.

As it stands, there were scattered clear areas where it was possible to see what was going on on the street. Watching the doings, comings, and goings on of the folks moving by the corner can be fascinating. It is quite unlike the view you would have watching people in a mall. Not everybody you see has money to spend on trivialities. Some don't even have money for necessities. Some people you see drove into town just to come to Powell's City of Books. People come from all over the area just to come to this one book store. Others walk, stroll, or stumble by oblivious to the store with no thoughts of even looking into the coffee shop. There are those outside who are certainly aware of those inside and occasionally they try in various ways to let the interior people know that the exterior people want them to pay them some attention.

The Burnside bus stops right in front of the coffee shop and it is fascinating to see the variety of riders who get on or off the bus here. This bus line comes from the Gateway Transit center in east Portland, crosses downtown and ends either at 23rd Avenue or goes on over the hill to Beaverton. Therefore the mix of passengers is not easily predicted. Of course the time of day has some effect on the nature of the crowd. Tonight, though because of the steam on the windows, I can't see the corner very well. I can't see the faces of those who pass on foot. I can't see very well the cars or trucks as they pass or stop at the intersection. I can only remember what it is like when the windows are clear.

January 30, 1996

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Jack Jackson ( jjack@bearinmind.org )