Can I get a witness?

Thursday, August 24, 2006

On my way to work this morning (approx 6:45am), I came up to a stop light. At this particular light I have to make a left turn. It is not uncommon for me to come upon a red light. This happens to be a fairly busy intersection. I am an observer; I always look around at other people driving and see what's going on outside of my vehicle. So, as I come to a complete stop and look to my right, I see an older man in a small pickup truck.

His behavior catches my attention. I notice him swinging his right arm forward and back. His arm is lifted up such that his elbow is level with his shoulder and his arm is bent at 90° about his elbow. Similar to a defensive tactic used in basketball to fend off would-be interceptors. As he motions his arm back and forth, I am considering the possibilities. Maybe he has a fly in his truck and he is trying to wave him out. Maybe he is exercising/stretching. Maybe he is practicing his right hook. Whatever it is, it looks weird to the uninformed onlooker.

After dismissing his behavior based on my lack of information, I accept what he is doing and lose interest. But not to be forgotten so soon the arm waving man is now edging up near the vehicle in front of him. It is one of those release and reapply the brakes such that is produces a jerky motion. "Okay, you have my interest again." After only a few seconds of the edging forward, he resumes the arm thrashing briefly.

As if this were not enough to draw in the average curious mind, he stops the arm swinging. Turns his head rapidly to the left, then to the right, then stops. he picks up a bible from the seat and starts reading aloud. Maybe not actually out loud, but at least so that the words being read from the page could also be read from his lips. No longer can I dismiss this behavior as normal.

The light turned green and we both proceeded in our predetermined directions. "Good luck to you, sir. I hope the bible helps, I think to myself." Seriously, that kind of behavior disturbs me. Mostly because I can't explain it. I don't behave like that. I can't understand what could make someone behave that way. Mental illnes is one of the toughest medical conditions to correctly diagnose. I just wanted to ask him what was going on.

 

posted by: ndicenso @ 7:39 AM   3 Comments | Post a Comment