Smoking With Strangers

the day after thanksgiving was a simple day. it all started in standard fashion... a coffee injection, some radio play, a shower, a trash dump, and an exit from the apartment complex. after dashing across the six-lane traffic grid, i decided to have a smoke at an outside business commons. before i could take a seat, a gentleman stumbled through, strapped to a heavy pack, wearing camouflage pants, and exhibiting a sloppy character. now rub the crystal ball. off the bat, we exchange pleasantries, and make with the small talk. within seconds, out come the herbs, the kind offering, and the gracious acceptance. he asked me if i was looking for anything, and i said i was broke. the toking session ensued. apparently there was an eviction from his living situation, due to a sketchy monetary fiasco, and a missing rent payment. as the rain intensified, we kept dry under an overhang, and the conversation continued. i brought up the topic of marijuana decriminalization in the state of washington, and as we traded details, the pharmacy kept emerging from his pack. as things got a bit more surreal, he happened to mention he was on methadone for heroin addiction, which i treated lightly, but with understanding (not experience). as the dank began to permeate, he stated it was medical grade, which i never doubted. then the mantra slowly revealed itself... “it will creep on you” he muttered like a broken record. and it did. though the experience could be described as ‘freaky’ but ‘funny’, you learn to relax under the haze, and enjoy the benefits of superhuman sensory perception. as for my friend... he never posed a genuine threat, aside from his hang-ups, and the quirky speech impediment. isn’t it odd how random moments can be so intriguing? following december six, will such encounters become ordinary episodes? or will things pretty much remain the same? just another shared nugget (or two), from one man, exploring the fabric of space and time.