Monday, November 27, 2006

all kinds of insane

a couple of months ago while in chicago visiting my ex alex, i came across the craziest person i've ever seen.
it began as a nice little sunday at the lincoln park zoo. alex and are turning the corner in front of the mountain lions when a voice hits our ear.
"what did i tell you? WHAT DID I SAY?! always stand by the bathroom doors! what if someone were to walk in?" the woman's voice was both husky and piercing at once. like someone had shoved a handful of dirt down her throat. i looked around for the source. when my eyes beheld her i immediately thought of miss havisham, the insane spinster of great expectations. the woman (in her 60s) was yelling at the younger man pushing her wheelchair she was wearing a girlish pale pink dress complete with lace ruffles and bows. strange ...but not the strangest. her sneering face was covered in thick white geisha-like makeup complete with the red lips and penciled eyebrows. on her head a black wig was held in place by a pink flowered japanese hair ornament. she however was not japanese. alex and i shot glances at each other. what the..? she continued on her way yelling at her... manservant (?) i begged alex to take a picture of her with his camera phone but to no avail. when we got home later i scoured the internet looking for any other sightings of this fascinating creature but if anyone else had seen her they did not write about her. who is she? what is her story? she obviously is mentally disturbed but why the geisha gear? even now i picture her in her house.. dimmed lights, scarves, screens and dust. mildew everywhere. perhaps even (like havisham) a decaying feast at her table and clocks all stopped at 20 minutes to 9. there's crazy and there is CRAZY... and this woman was CRAZY.

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