LOOK ME IN THE EYES

So...
when I see crazy people on the street I know I should be cautious. Men with beards, wearing tutus and carrying big red hearts should be avoided. People getting off or starting up their morning fix should not be looked in the eye. Move to the side, walk around them do what you gotta do, but don't provoke.

But sometimes I feel like I have a connection to these people, you know. We're the ones who get it. You know. We are the ones who treasure every moment like it's our last. And so, I can't help but look them in the eye, those silly little crazies.

But I don't just look them in the eye.
I give them my smile. I give them the "I know, I'm on your team too" smile. Because I care.

Like today.
Today I was walking in full gym regalia, including the disgusting sweat drenched shirt that showed where I really perspire, on the sticky summer streets of New York. I was part of those streets, melting and disgusting.

I didn't feel like talking, I didn't feel like being looked at, and I didn't feel like being touched.

SO WHY...

when a man carrying a small little yippee dog in his hand like a baseball is approaching me screaming,
"HE'S A PUPPY. HE'S MY PUPPY. AND HE WANTS TO KISS YOU!"

...DO I SMILE AT HIM?

Why do I do that? I mean, really, WHY DO I DO THAT?

Because I could relate to him. He was enjoying a walk with his dog to the fullest. Because he looked silly, I looked silly, the pup looked silly.

SO...
this man, shirtless, tan, in his 20's, starts walking right to me. And I start smiling, more than smiling. My eyes are getting giggly and I start to make almost laughing sounds, snorts through the nose, quick of breathe. ALMOST LAUGHING. But not really laughing.
And he's walking straight to me. And singing "Puppy, he's going to kiss you. He's going to kiss you!!!"
So I decide to try and move to the right, out of his way. Puppy carrying, crazy curly haired, hipster, moves to his left to follow my lead.
I move to the left. Poochie toting, twinkle toes, tall guy, moves to his right.
There is no more sidewalk.
Check mate.

"PUPPY WANTS TO KISS YOU. PUPPY WANTS TO KISS YOU.PUPPY WANTS TO KISS YOU!"
He says as he thrusts his dogs wet nose and furry cheeks into my face.

So...
I kiss this dog, this scary screaming, crazy man's puppy...Well almost kiss him...I mean I stared the dog in the eyes. His confused, puppy dog eyes. I closed mine, and tucked my lips in so we wouldn't share a lip lock.
And then the crazy man moved on. There was no contact, with the dog or him. Not that I felt. Maybe emotional contact, but nothing physical.

And then I moved on.
Got a breakfast sandwich, a coffee, and an apple. Read the news, well...watched the Real Housewives of New York... and started my day.

But I could tell that pup did want to kiss me, I could see it in his eyes.

I mean you'd have to be crazy not to want to kiss me...you'd have to be crazy.