Thursday, October 13, 2016

Well I didn't expect to see that

Downtown Philly from an inbound Amtrak Train
Wednesday morning I had a meeting near the Capital in Washington DC.  I took the Red line on the subway to Union Station and exited onto the sidewalk on the west side of the station, crossed the street and started up the incline.  A couple of hundred feet ahead of me, there was a man, who appeared to have his pants down around his ankles.  Now my distance vision is not what it was 30 years ago, so I wasn't sure until I got closer, but yes his pants and underwear were down around his ankles and he was leaning back at an angle, almost but not quite squatting, and yes he was defecating and urinating over the curb.  I have to admire his balance, he didn't fall over, he was missing his pants, and drop - drop- squirt - squirt there he was going.  I have never observed this behavior in a human.  The government printing office police (oh yes, the government printing office has a police department - your tax dollars at work - they protect passports between the government printing office a few blocks away and the post office) were coming down the sidewalk in the other direction shouting at him to stop and pull his pants up.  About 150 feet past him I turned to see what was happening, and he had pulled his pants up and was trying to walk away from the police, they were calling for local police back up.  

Life in the big city, but I honestly never thought I would see that. Today's picture is totally unrelated to the story. I didn't dig my phone out and take a picture of his personal moment in a public place.  The train station just across the street has public toilets that are free and open all the time - I didn't stop to ask WHY here?  

What is the weirdest thing you have seen in public this week? 

10 comments:

  1. HOME! :)

    I haven't seen anything weird this week. unless you count all the stupid people out there...or donald the rump.

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  2. Maybe he doesn't like dirty bathrooms?

    :-)

    -Andy

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  3. I've seen nothing like that!
    I did see a forty foot tree lying on the ground in my backyard, though.

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  4. Blech! I actually once witnessed that on my way to work in the Back Bay of Boston, right off Copley Square! A woman, in the middle of the sidewalk! That was more than 30 years ago and I still can't get the image out of my head.

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  5. Maybe I need to get out more.

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  6. Anonymous10/13/2016

    Calling for back up! What with, a toilet!?!
    JP

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  7. Anonymous10/13/2016

    It's possible a mental health issue was at play here, unfortunately. Having said that ... I'd hate to be the person that had to do the laundry of that man who just pulled up his pants and went on his merry way.

    I once saw a documentary about India where some people did not have adequate resources and had no choice other than to relieve themselves in public. Yes ... I am a big fan of population control.

    I can't think of anything in the past week I saw that was odd ... however, every single time I leave my house I end up turning around immediately and going back in because I forgot to take something, turn something off, etc. So I always imagine my neighbours that may be peeking through curtains thinking I'm the odd one, in and out the door at least twice before I can actually get away from the house!

    ~ Freckles

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    Replies
    1. I have to agree, either mental or physical illness. Sad, and within site of the Capital.

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  8. David,
    The question is, did he wipe himself? By the way, I love your photo of the Philly skyline. I'll be there celebrating my birthday the day after election day. I used to live and work in Philly for many years. I go back at least twice a year. Pat loves Philly too. We will meet there again. More blog postings!
    Ron

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  9. I can't tell you for it would violate patient confidentiality.

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