Today at the post office I met this crazy collector... he rambled on and on...

I was waiting in the post office for it to open up. It was 8:47 AM and it opens at 9. So I was just reading my Critical thinking book for college trying to study for the quiz later that day (the post office is near my campus)

And in comes an old scrawny man. He looked about 55 years old. He walked by me and looked at the photo copier. "OH SHIT! It's outta order," he said.

"Hey, do you know where I can photo copy stuff?"

As he looked at me, I noticed he was missing most of his teeth.

I directed him down the street to Kinkos. He smiled and thanked me. He was about to exit the store, but suddenly stopped and turned back to me.

"Say, do you use eBay?"

I laughed inside. I'm only here to pick up a money order for a game I won off eBay buddy. "A little," I told him.

"Well, I am addicted to it. I'm a big Hot Wheels collector. I love them. Ever since I was a kid. I hunt them all the time on eBay. But the thing is, many of the sellers charge 5 dollars shipping. That's way too much! So here's what I do, I click on seller's other items and see if I can..."

"Combine shipping," I finished.

"Yeah. You know, sometimes I really want certain Hot Wheels toys, but my friends always tell me. Eddie *he points to himself* that's me by the way, they say -- Eddie, patience. Patience."

I started thinking, this guy is kinda off the edge. He was saying 'patience' in a very whispery tone. Kinda weird...

"Patience," he continued. "Eddie, you must have patience. Because good bargains will always come around. Don't jump the gun! Don't float the boat just yet! Patience, Eddie."

"Well yeah --" I started. "Eddie" cut me off.

"But sometimes I just can't take it you know? Some of those items on eBay are from the 80s and 70s... you CAN'T FIND THAT IN REAL LIFE, you know? YOU CAN'T FIND THAT IN REAL LIFE! You gotta get if off eBay! Items are out of circulation sometimes you know. I mean, as early as NINETEEN NINETY NINE, they're out of circulation. You gotta get if off eBay. And sometimes you got to pay through the nose."

"Uh yeah, eBay is the answer sometimes."

At this point, he walked slowly up to me and whispered... it was kinda creepy. I mean, here we were, the *ONLY* TWO people in the whole damn store, and this old man is whispering! Must have been for dramatic effect!

"I'll let you in a secret though. At 8 AM on Saturday mornings, if you go to the Target on Walnut Avenue, you can get the latest batch of the newest Hot Wheel toys."

"Oh," I say, with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.

Eddie backed off.

"You know, when I was a kid I used to go to this tunnel underground to watch the convention shows and whatnot. You know what I'm talking about? Well you see, the bad thing is, they tore the place down some odd years ago. It's not too cool now. Times change. Things change."

I nodded. Throughout this whole deal, I stared at him with respect, didn't smirk or laugh. I know how to respect the elders, even if it's a wacky one...

He told me some more stories, but I won't bother writing them down. It's amazing how he went on and on and on and on.
I also observed one thing about him. In a way, he's holding on to his past, and as I got my money order and walked back on campus, I wondered too if I might be like that when I'm 55 years old.

Will I be hanging on to my past too? Better yet, would I be hanging onto it as badly as Eddie is?

I don't know.

By the way, you might figure Eddie is your classic "energy thief." You know, those people who love to talk all the time about things that maybe you aren't as interested in as. But the funny thing was, Eddie didn't bore me. For better or worse, I saw some of him in me...

Anyway, have a good night everyone.

Sounds like that guy doesn't have anybody to talk to. I hate these people. HATE THEM. With a passion. I cannot stand strangers who babble on to me, and at one point or another cut them off and leave with a quickness.

SonGohan:
Sounds like that guy doesn't have anybody to talk to. I hate these people. HATE THEM. With a passion. I cannot stand strangers who babble on to me, and at one point or another cut them off and leave with a quickness.

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I agree with you to a certain degree. Again, your classic "energy thief." I hate those people. But Eddie was alright I guess. He did spew out some shit I can kinda relate to... so it wasn't all that bad.

It was weird. I went from looking at Eddie, to on campus staring at the beautiful skirt-wearing ladies. Talk about your biggest contrast! wink

Kind of sad really. I have to agree with SonGohan that the guy is just lonely and doesn't have anyone to interact with or listen to him with any frequency.

I think about this from time to time myself. In general, I can't tolerate most people for more then a half hour, hence I have a small close knit group of friends. And when it comes to the opposite sex, most girls bore the fuck out of me to tell the truth. The ones that don't are generally taken, unsurprisingly. And have you ever noticed how it's some prick that probably doesn't even deserve said girls company?

So I wonder if I may end up in the same boat as Eddie? Damn, I hope not. Only time will tell.

At least I'll have my teeth, I know that much. Take good care of my chompers.

Eddie ROCKS! buttrock

God, this old dude rambled on like Grampa Simpson...

Im impressed that you managed to transcript every single word from that conversation... or is ths the condensed version?

what city is this steve? because there's a walnut Ave around here

that settles it next monologue i do in theatre class is everything "eddie" said in that piece you just wrote.

... And all us 20somethings think we're part of the swingin' human race discussing the neuances of orphaned game systems.

And collecting $200+ dollar games.

really.. we're all no different than the 55 yr old hot wheel guy.

Awakened1:
... And all us 20somethings think we're part of the swingin' human race discussing the neuances of orphaned game systems.

And collecting $200+ dollar games.

really.. we're all no different than the 55 yr old hot wheel guy.

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The man does have a point.

Dude, Stave, you're making all these up, aren't you.

I mean, you have a new personal drama to share with us each week.

You should log all of these and publish them in a book.

EvilWasabi:
Dude, Stave, you're making all these up, aren't you.

I mean, you have a new personal drama to share with us each week.

You should log all of these and publish them in a book.

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Actually, it's real believe it or not.
And I've toned it down quite frankly, as far as these "introspective posts" go. Really. I used to post maybe, as you said, once a week. Now, if you guys are *LUCKY* then maybe I do it once a month.

FEELGOOD, tickled nice quote man!

Kim K, yeah, try it out as a monologue in your theatre class next time. I enjoy monologues myself. No partner to screw you. It's all on you and I like that "pressure." I don't know you, but I'd bet you'll do a hell of a job acting out the "crazed collector" role. Good luck

And yes, whether we like it or not, there's a little of EDDIE in all of us. Sans missing teeth hopefully mr_t

Hehe funny post !

Actually I don't mind people like Ed at all. Imagine yourself being his age and having no wife and family or whatsoever.. I would be talking to all kinds of people as well. Damn, I do that in clubs all the time. Guess the street is Eddie's club

And yes, there IS a Eddie in all of us, trust me.

Steve:

EvilWasabi:
Dude, Stave, you're making all these up, aren't you.

I mean, you have a new personal drama to share with us each week.

You should log all of these and publish them in a book.

Click to expand...

Actually, it's real believe it or not.
And I've toned it down quite frankly, as far as these "introspective posts" go. Really. I used to post maybe, as you said, once a week. Now, if you guys are *LUCKY* then maybe I do it once a month.

FEELGOOD, tickled nice quote man!

Kim K, yeah, try it out as a monologue in your theatre class next time. I enjoy monologues myself. No partner to screw you. It's all on you and I like that "pressure." I don't know you, but I'd bet you'll do a hell of a job acting out the "crazed collector" role. Good luck

And yes, whether we like it or not, there's a little of EDDIE in all of us. Sans missing teeth hopefully mr_t

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I'm not saying you should slow down on them. I just think it's weird that you have so many "events." I figure you're making these up as an outlet for stories heard or acted out from drama classes or something.

Couple years back I was sitting on a friends stoop, when this crazy, old, one-armed, war veteran guy came up and just started talking with me.

Had some pretty deep (though bizzare) thoughts on stuff, we talked for about a half hour...

and after started walking away I had the most profound sense of "oneness" with the world I have ever felt.

I went in the house, grabbed my notebook and transcribed everything I could remember.

I'd like to make it into a short play or something some day.

Great story wink

Kidnemo:
Couple years back I was sitting on a friends stoop, when this crazy, old, one-armed, war veteran guy came up and just started talking with me.

Had some pretty deep (though bizzare) thoughts on stuff, we talked for about a half hour...

and after started walking away I had the most profound sense of "oneness" with the world I have ever felt.

I went in the house, grabbed my notebook and transcribed everything I could remember.

I'd like to make it into a short play or something some day.

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WOW. Now THERE'S a story.

You should definitely go for it. Try to make it into a short play or something, as you said you're interested in doing so. I'd love to see it quite frankly.

There are quite a few thing myself I'd like personally to make into a short play, TV show, or book even. It's important to have dreams...

It's funny how sometimes the most unexpected of people we meet can make the biggest impact on us, at least for the moment being.

Kidnemo:
Couple years back I was sitting on a friends stoop, when this crazy, old, one-armed, war veteran guy came up and just started talking with me.

Click to expand...

I forgot to say this, but late last year I acted out a role of a crazy one-armed war veteran. It was for my 'intermediate acting' class and me and my partner got the script from a play Keith Reddin wrote called "Life and Limb." You might have read it or seen it performed before. I played "Franklin" and my partner played "Effie."

I remember that morning before we went up to act it out. My partner helped me with the one-arm gimmick (I stuck my arm inside my shirt). I had to carry a suitcase on stage too, so I really was a one-arm man for five minutes. It was a very unique experience to say the least.

I enjoyed the character tremendously. In fact, to this day, it's still my favorite character I ever played. I had a lot of emotional lines, even a couple of F-words that I yelled at Effie, my own dang wife. It felt great to vent. Basically, she was having an affair while I was at war. While she was banging some punk kid, I was fighting for my country and lost my freaking arm.

So I come back, and Effie is ignoring the reality of the situation; she started rambling about stupid 3D movies (it was the craze of that period) and I told her to shut the F*CK up. I remember feeling that the whole class was absolutely stunned by the shock value. But in the end, we made up and went home, trying to coop with the sad reality: my arm gone, her love for me fading. A whole new world...

As we walked off the class gave us a standing ovation. It sent goosebumps down my spine. I really got into the Franklin character, and forgot for five minutes that I was Steve. In fact, before we performed I just sat in my seat and my mentality was bitter, like that of Franklin's.... it was a strange very surreal feeling.

Well count your blessings that Eddie didnt have bad breath.

My experience was far worse. It was when I was 19, and I had just moved to Victoria, which is kinda like LOndons Manhattan district.

Anyway I was on my way home after a night out and I passed the McDonalds next to Westminster Abbey, which would serve as a "hang out" for Londons drunk and dispossesed.

Anyway this rancid 40 year old bastard grabs my jacket collar as I walk past,and with his foul breath begins to tell me his rotten story .The mistake I made was actually stopping for more than 10 seconds to listen instead of legging it.

I eventually broke free, but that day I vowed I would break the guys leg if he ever put his hand on my $200 Diesel jacket again.

Thankfully I didnt see him again

By the way, apart from the rotten teeth and whispering, Eddie sounds a nice guy. The passage of time could make Eddies out of all of us yet.

Its not all bad being spoken to by stranger.

I was hanging out at the Notting Hill computer exchange one day, years ago, when a 50 year old, pony tailed dude, took an interest in the supergun I was trying to sell at the shop counter.
The shop people didnt really understand what a supergun was (this was 1995).The old guy stepped in and helped out.

He was dressed and sounded like Giles in Buffy the Vampire slayer.

He was humble and amusing, and took a real interest in the supergun (he actually thought I was the genius who had made it)

Anyway others told me later , that the guy in question was a famous coding expert in the 1980s and had made many games on the spectrum.

<small>[ April 02, 2003, 05:50 PM: Message edited by: rugal2000 ]</small>

I used to work at target and every morning 10 minutes before we opened there was a line of them.

all of them were the most white trash people ive ever seen. Theyd buy cart fulls of the cars.

Atleast with vintage games we can play them, these guys just keep them in the package and stare, some of them keep track of different years, like this one guy has every car for 3 years of production!

Steve:
WOW. Now THERE'S a story.

You should definitely go for it. Try to make it into a short play or something, as you said you're interested in doing so. I'd love to see it quite frankly.

There are quite a few thing myself I'd like personally to make into a short play, TV show, or book even. It's important to have dreams...

It's funny how sometimes the most unexpected of people we meet can make the biggest impact on us, at least for the moment being.

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I totally agree.

Sometimes the most bizzare stuff can have such profound effects on our lives.

Anytime the weather is just right, the leaves are blowing in a certain way, or something just reminds me of that day (like your original post)...it takes me back and I have that same "gut" feeling that I had after talking to the veteran.

Makes me appreciate how much a like we all are. I mean really, we're all misunderstood and confused in our own ways.

Going through your daily routine it's easy to forgot that I suppose.

Great story about the scene btw. The author sounds familar, but I don't think I've ever read it. I'll have to check it out.

You know Steve, I am not going to let you on any more secrets next time!!!