If I still have this blog in a few years time and it has degenerated into random mumblings, there is a very, very good reason. It has become very apparent to me that I live in Special Needs City. I am not in any way trying to be derogatory. I have just noticed that there are an extraordinary number of weirdoes in the city. In fact, I defy any city (other than possibly New York) to produce such a fine crop of crazies.
On any given day, while walking on the street, or sitting on the bus, you are likely to be sandwiched between the Vaguely Demented and the Droolingly Psychotic. I know one of the main psychiatric hospitals very kindly released a bunch of more minor patients onto the streets, and we struggle with a huge drug addiction problem, but what is scary is not so much the ranting guy wearing three jackets and smelling like pee and Listerine, but the person who seems oddly normal. Too normal. If you know what I mean. The Vaguely Demented are the ones you have to watch out for.
I have also realised that the famed politeness of Canadians may actually just be born out of pure insanity. And hey, the grey skies and cold weather have made me go slightly mad, so imagine being born here?? As soon as I came here for the first time, I understood why there are so many stories of bizarre murders and strange happenings. What else is there to do when it’s so frikkin cold? Have babies or murder people. It’s a tough call. I gues you could do both??
In no particular order, here are some of my favourite regular (and irregular) crazies:
1. One Sandwich Short Lady
There must have been something seriously wrong with the sandwich. Or OSSL simply didn’t like the face of the guy sitting opposite her on the Skytrain. As we got to the stop, OSSL decided to smash her sub into the face of an unsuspecting fellow passenger. For no reason. I mean, when I want to do this to someone, i usually know them and they usually really deserve it. Plus, I’ve never actually gone as far as to physically attack someone with food. It could only be a matter of time though…
2. Starbucks Guy
In all respects, a normal gent, SG enjoys a latte and sitting in the arm chair most Saturdays in the local Starbucks, spending quality time chatting to… himself. But not in a ranting way, in a very conversational way. He responds, he laughs at what I assume are jokes, he nods, he shakes. It’s pretty spectacular to watch.
3. Pigeon Man
One of my absolute favourites. Pigeon man has a pet pigeon tied to a string that sits on his hat or head, while he sits on the street corner panhandling. I have so many questions. Did he catch the pigeon? Did he hatch the pigeon? Does the pigeon like being tied to the string? Is pigeon shit good for your hair? Why a pigeon, not a parrot? Or did he not have a choice, being a street person? Are the other pigeons jealous? What does he feed the pigeon? So many unanswered questions…
4. Cleopatra
Behold Cleopatra. Her shimmering gold headdress. Her toothless grin. Her seven layers of clothing. I don’t even want to know if she has an asp hidden somewhere.
5. Changing Excuse Woman
CEW can routinely be seen crying or rocking on the side of the road with a small piece of cardboard, holding a litany of ever-changing reasons why she needs money. She’s mentally challenged and pregnant one week, the next her husband beats her, then she’s abused, autistic and running away from home, then she’s physically disabled. She has a cane in front of her, even when I have seen her striding purposefully down the street. I am sure that she has most likely suffered horrible tragedies in her life, but I can’t help being a little sceptical when her stories change every week and get more and more tragic as time goes by.
There are so many others. Cellphone-as-a-Hat Man, Screaming War Vet in a Wheelchair, Racist Redneck, God-Bless-You Man… and these are just the obvious ones who most likely have some kind of mental illness or addiction issue. The more scary ones are those who pass as “normal”; the squinty eyed weirdoes and mutterers and mumblers. What a delightful city! If you are a people watcher like me, there is endless fodder for my amusement (and blog). My only concern is how long it will take for me to turn into one of them… perhaps I’d better go and get myself a sandwich just in case.
December 1, 2009 at 4:57 am
I delight, yet it's so true in this fair town!!!Does sunshine bring change? Or simply the Saffer's out from under the sun lamps…?
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December 1, 2009 at 5:38 am
Ahh yes the joys…I have my list which include: Woman who pushes a duck in a baby carriage, panhandlig woman with a mullet who randomly hits people walking by, the lady who is always dressed in business clothes and ask very specifically for a quarter and the list goes on…not to mention the one I miss th most from the #7 bus – ESL boy listening to his iPod, while "singing" heavy metal and banging his ring on the pool…..I am proud to be a Vancouverite HA
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December 1, 2009 at 5:42 am
About "pigeon man" —it is not a parrot since it would be too cold to have one in this city for 6 months of the year. Plus the parrot most likely eats more and thus there would be less for the man to have for himself. The pigeon can just eat his own shit. Resourceful pet. And helps add to the "image" this guy is going for…… a parrot is just way too "street" for me. Cannot picture one unless its a latino with gang tattoos, gold chains, slicked back hair, etc…or if there are no palm trees around. As for starbucks guy–those are common regardless of which starbucks you go to. Weird I know! As a fellow people watcher, may I suggest Granville Street on a Friday or Saturday night around 1 AM? Definitely worth people watching then… you may get a good laugh or cry out of it.
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December 1, 2009 at 6:06 am
T – Mack – sunshine just more daylight for the crazies to prowl in.Tatiana – hahaha sooo true – definitely more apt to the situation and very very good points about the parrot!!Sarah – Duck in a carriage? OMG I feel like I am missing out!!!!
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December 1, 2009 at 7:15 am
Reminds me of some guy that I was familiar with in edmonton about 10 years ago. The guy rambled incoherently but in such a way so that you assumed he was saying something meaningful and was just waiting on getting to the point, then the point never came (to any of the 6 tangents he took in one sentence), leaving you befuddled and confused. My brother Kevin had the best story for him though. One time he saw him on the bus repeatedly muttering "What happened to my job? I used to be a manager. I worked at the treasury branch." Take those three sentences, repeat one of them every 15 seconds for about 15 minutes, and you have hilarity.
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December 1, 2009 at 7:26 am
Nutters! Van hulle dak af! Loved this post. Like attracts like, non? On the subject of special needs…I saw the funniest thing in JHB. Around the corner from where my aunt lives is a school for mentally handicapped children. Painted on the road a metre outside each entrance to the school is a governMENTAL classic: 'SLOW SCHOOL!' hahhahaa hahahahahhahahahah xxx lovings Miss C eh N eh D eh xxx
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December 1, 2009 at 9:10 am
Lol! Loved this post.
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December 2, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Great post! New York has a lot of crazies but they don't seem to be quite so poetically amusing as your brand… ours are mostly the leery, wild-eyed variety…
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December 4, 2009 at 8:01 am
This is fucking hilarious! I snorted into my coffee at least six times. However, I have a sneaking sympathy for Starbucks Guy, being one of his kind myself. I did not know this about myself. Until about four different people, who did not know each other, all independently pointed out that I frequently natter to myself, then start laughing, then natter more. Apparently I sometimes even get a bit irritated and snap at myself. And apparently I do not restrict myself to private spaces, since people see me doing it in the canteen, the office kitchen, shopping malls, buses, restaurants. I don't know if I do it at home, since I (apparently) don't know I'm doing it and (apparently) can't help it. Starbucks Guy, you and me, baby. We're gonna make magic.
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December 4, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Squeeze, if you weren't already taken, I would say come on over and I'll introduce you. I LOVE the fact that you are a secret Starbucker. Awesome.xoxoox
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