Last night was different. Each Thursday Night has a different feel, a different crowd. This one was decidedly not very friendly.
Still, we had a good time, and I actually spent some time at the Democratic booth and the bike club booth.
A guy who had been talking to the Democratic Club president about environmental and transportation issues started directing his comments towards me, and eventually I had to tell him that I should get back to MY booth, and he was very surprised because I seemed to knowledgeable about the issues. Or at least, I bothered to listen to him.
Later, I headed over to the High Desert Cyclists booth on the other side of the Square, and helped Lynn, who was manning the booth by his lonesome, talk to a lady about the club. She was thinking that we were a store selling bikes. I guess that's because we are raffling off a BMX bike for kids. We explained that we're a club for riders, and she got excited because her husband goes out and rides at 5 am every morning. She took our flyer and said she'd tell her husband about our meetings.
Back at our booth, while Sarge was getting some food, a man came by with a large ice cream cone, said, "Oh, Nichiren Shoshu." "No," I said, "Nichiren Shu. Different." "Uh-oh, my ice cream is melting!" he said as he scurried away.
The rest of the crowd picked up their FREE bibles at the booth to our left, and then glancing at our sign and pamphlets, frowned deeply, and moved quickly towards wherever they were in a great hurry to get.
Paul, Lynn's stepson, and bike club vice president -- and might I say the next handsomest man on the planet after Sarge -- came by with his wife and 3 kids and happily took the pamphlet on karma to read. Sarge asked him whether it hurt to have his ears pierced. That was highlight of my evening.
Well, I wouldn't get too discouraged. Remember the Japanese pioneers and how they would put out Buddhist publications on the floor and pretend the publications were guests? I know that's a little goofy and "old school", but anyway - keep on keeping on.
I would love to visit sometime and come to your Nichiren Shu gatherings at the Unitarian Church up there.
See you soon - you and Sarge rock, Michele!
Best, Your pal Byrd in LA