I sit in the back of the bus, up two stairs and in view
of the fish-eye-lens camera. Should
anything untoward happen, it’s only right that it be documented. It is my hope, if I am in a crash/lit on
fire/forced to defend myself with the heel of my boot and my wits, that the
whole thing be captured on video and serve as a how-to/what-not-to-do for
future generations.
That said, I do not think I will have to defend myself
against Ulrich here (not his real name).
Dagnabit, I just don’t know what to think of this guy.
On the one hand, it is rare that we come across this
particular breed of urban hipster.
Leather shorts, a slouch-style hat with – holy Hannah – a two-foot
pheasant feather jutting from the band, my brows have furrowed themselves into braided
plaits of concentration that refuse to let go.
This guy’s gonna give me a headache.
I force my brows apart with my hands, try to smooth out
the grooves in my forehead.
Let’s look at the facts, shall we?
It’s a morning commute.
He looks sober.
We are months from Oktoberfest.
So what’s it all mean?
This is what we ask ourselves.
I mean, it’s not like Bavarian Boy just tripped down the
mountain. I’ve heard him speak. He is, as we like to say, from around these parts.
He gets on the bus.
Roughly 12 blocks later, he gets off the bus. There are clues in that he’s getting off at a stop that runs to the
University of Minnesota.
Is this guy attending the U of M dressed as a Hummel
figurine? Is that a thing now?
We are a little richer for the sight of a man in
lederhosen.
And we are poorer in his absence.
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31 comments:
Lederhosen Man....what impresses me more is the feather in his hat. Takes a confident man to feather his hat.
Shelly, we can definitely add "confident" to his resume!
Maybe he's honouring his antecedents . . . maybe they're spinning in their graves! Colourful, though;-)
Haven't you heard? Those are the latest "it" item. Can't get them in the mainstream stores - you must have them custom made. Go on, I double dog dare ya. And, yes, they're unisex. Don't worry about making THAT fashion faux pas.
:)
My late grandfather used to wear a feather in hit hat...God rest his soul :)
Hari OM
Well now, on the right size and shape they can be quite appealing.
Oh. Add to that, the right place...
#~\ YAM xx
Were they rather short lederhosen? Those creep me out on an adult. Kids won't wear them.
Perhaps he had a tryout for a Ricola commercial.
Hmmm, curious problem: Sober, not October, subject from "around here". If we eliminate the impossible, what remains is your bus's route ends in southeast Germany. I believe if you consult its schedule in full, you'll find Bavaria among the last stops of the day.
Maybe he is appearing in a performance of "Heidi" as a goatherd somewhere? :D
winter, sweetpea! let's see if he manages that get-up in winter! *nodding* xoxoxoxo
His legs! You didn't tell us about his legs. Were they runner legs, all stringy and tough, hairy legs, or chubby baby legs? When a guy lets his legs hang out on a morning commute he has a lot of, um, courage.
Lederhosen and pheasant feather--blog fodder of the best kind!
Not to worry. Here in Fuengirola in Southern Spain, our Oktoberfest celebration is held in August (I think it may even still be going on); don't ask me why. But maybe Ulrich just took the wrong bus.
I should've described the legs. :-) Stringy, they were, with square kneecaps. A bit on the long side. Looked like he could handle a hike or two.
Love the new pic, Mitchell!
Hmm. Bus rides can be scary, somedays they are nauseating but they are never boring. And lederhosen on an adult leans towards the nauseating in my head.
You reminded me of my trip to a Black Sabbath concert two weeks ago. I surveyed the crowd and thought, "Where are these people the rest of the year?" What I mean to say is that none of them look as though they actually walk the streets until a dinosaur heavy metal band is playing somewhere, and then they come out of the woodwork in black leather, studs, foot-long beards, ponytails, and a pronounced odor of semi-legal weeds.
(You may well ask, "Well, aren't you one of them, too?" No, I'm not. I wore a polo shirt and chinos, I was clean shaven, and I didn't even have so much as a single toke. I'm willing to admit I probably looked as weird to them as they did to me...)
Lederhosen and feathers, huh? That takes a certain amount of intestinal fortitude for a man to pull off before Happy Hour. Not every man can wear feathers.
You seem to see the most interesting people... I need to pay more attention when I am on the bus :)
Iwould have asked him. Life is short. I can't stand unsolved mysteries.
I need a feather for my hat.
Lederhosen? Maybe that could become an Arizona fashion statement.
Gotta be cooler than blue jeans.
Lederhosen? Feather hat? Got off at the local college. Makes sense to me.
After some of the get ups I spied when I dropped my son off last week - at 9:00 am! - I'm totally not surprised. Those darn college kids will wear anything.
The smart mother makes sure she snaps a picture or two...a mom can't have too many embarrassing pictures of her kids.
Was he wearing the lederhosen ironically? Was he carrying beer? A big sausage (snort). I thought the Secret Society of Lederhosen was an urban myth. I stand corrected.
I have always loved men in lederhosen. You are a lucky people hunter Ms. Pearl!
Oh lordy-- Leather shorts!!! Ha!
I love your bus stories, Pearl.
xo jj
The people who ride on your bus have gotta be a collection of some of the most interesting people in the whole darned country. Never boring, anyway! Maybe the dude was an eccentric German professor?
Is he dressed up for an interview or some sort? Perhaps he's pledging to a frat? Maybe working on his post-doctorate in animal husbandry? Could it be laundry day, and there was nothing else to wear? You should have asked him what his deal was. Now I'm a-gonna wonder about this for the rest of the night...
I have seen guys in kilts on the college campus in Oregon City. One time I saw a guy wearing a blue tutu (his chest way too hairy) walking around like ti was normal (was candid camera there???). I think the odd balls keep the world colorful! Definitely has our tongues wagging!!
This is what I miss about taking the bus!
He may have been on his way to a slap-dancing class, ready to participate in a demonstration during Oktoberfest.
I once did a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon along an obscure trail from the north rim and a friend of friend came along, dressed as you described. However, he was also a geologist, so we overlooked the fact he was far from the Alps.
Lederhosen? Now tights, that would have been normal . . .
My dad wore shorts. Once. His neighbour asked him if those were his legs or if he was riding a chicken.
I wonder if he is just here looking for Heidi?
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