A trip to the museum

Have you noticed there’s no better place for people watching than public transportation hubs? Think about all the fascinating people you see at airports, trains, metros, sidewalks. Got a good mental image? Good. Now think about the venue as a museum with all of those fascinating people as living works of art. A friend of mine calls this the Museum of Humanity.

One such Work of Art caught my attention earlier this week while sitting in the Museum of Humanity's metro train wing. It was about 8pm, there weren't many people around and the darkness outside enveloped the car, turning the large windows in to veritable mirrors. The woman about 3 rows up was talking. There was nobody else around her. I automatically thought her animated conversation was due to a cell phone or Bluetooth in her vicinity. As she turned, however, there was no Bluetooth and no cell phone. Gasp! Could it be? Could this be the revered Work of Art known as "Woman in Row 1 and Her Reflection?" Cha-ching! Imagine my inner excitement when it was confirmed she was talking to herself as was indeed "Woman in Row 1 and Her Reflection." Yes, she was talking to her own reflection in the window! WiR1aHR was beautiful, artfully arranged and her conversation quite animated, even heated from time to time. This was a truly classic Museum experience. Michelangelo himself could not have carved or painted her more brilliantly! I was immediately enthralled.

As I continued to study this particular Work of Art and her conversation with her reflection, I noticed others doing the same. There were audible gasps from onlookers, whispers, giggles, even a snicker; all other conversation disintegrated to hushed tones as we were all captivated by the sheer power of the Art. It was only the metro announcer with the crackled cry of "next stop, Union Station!" that shook the reverie. All too soon it was over. One last look, one last listen, and I stepped off the metro as she sped east towards more conversation.

Thinking back on WiR1aHR I am still awed by the experience. Do look for her next time you find yourself entrenched in the Museum of Humanity. She's tough to locate but well worth it. And if you don't find her but stumble upon a Work of Art just as intriguing, do share!