Photo by Jill Slater
There’s a big thing that happened today. Lots of people are thinking about it, and it is pretty strange. It seems to have even affected how people think.
On the Red line Sunday afternoon:
Two twenty-somethings are casually chatting.
Man: “I’m looking to move out to the Red Line.”
Woman: “Yeah, I’ve always lived on the Red Line. It’s pretty dependable. I love the Red Line!”
After the jump, lots of Inauguration ennui, funny people, and airports.
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Fingers crossed
At Paul in Foggy Bottom on Monday Morning:
Woman, presumably a federal employee, to a man over coffee: “Trump keeps talking about the wall and Obamacare. I haven’t heard about the hiring freeze in a while. I hope he keeps working on the wall for the next couple of weeks until I transfer divisions. Then, I’m safe.”
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See, government is cool!
At Coffy Cafe in Columbia Heights:
Three bearded tourists in their mid-20’s are wearing old hoodies and bandannas around their necks.
First dude: “Dude, last night we passed by this building and it was the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. That’s so bomb-ass! Do they have jobs there? Do they have all that stuff in there!”
The other two nod enthusiastically before they discuss their protest plans.
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Of course
At National Airport:
A young woman is meeting a friend.
Young woman 1: “What a crazy flight. Half of the people were Trump supporters coming for the inaugural and half were coming for the march. There were loud arguments the whole flight.”
Young woman 2: “What airline?”
Young woman 1: “United.”
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So, is that a “good”…?
At the Logan Circle Whole Foods:
Two older people who clearly haven’t seen each other in a while run into each other.
Person 1 (excitedly): “Hey, you’re in my neighborhood! It’s been a long time—how have you been?”
Person 2 (with totally flat affect): “Oh, you know. Wrote a book.”
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Today’s a good day to start
In Dupont:
20-something woman walking down the extremely long line for free pot, exclaiming to no one in particular: “Shit, I didn’t know this many people smoked weed!”
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Marines: the funniest service
Two Marines walking north along Barracks Row, passing Yes! Organic Market:
As they pass Yes! Organic Market:
Marine 1: “Have you ever been in there?”
Marine 2: “No, that’s healthy people bullshit.”
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That’s the spirit
(But no joke, all of these places are donating to nonprofits this weekend.)
Thursday afternoon at So’s Your Mom in Adams Morgan:
Twenty-something guy waiting for his sandwich is choosing a beverage: “This is the last day of civilization, so I might as well ring it in with a cream soda.”
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The joys of home ownership
On Capitol Hill:
A bearded man, holding a power saw and a door, shouts: “Honey, I think we need to eat in shifts… because there’s no door on the house.”
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Don’t remind me
At Union Station:
The conductor concluding her opening announcements on a train yesterday: “This is Amtrak train 188, about to depart. Welcome to America.”
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Airport snobbery
At BWI near the Spirit terminal:
Youngish guys are chanting “President Trump” as everyone else sitting in the terminal grumbles.
Someone else yells: “WE ARE SCREWED! We are screwed.”
Another woman: “I’d expect this at DCA, not here…”
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And finally, not political but seems to fit today, too
At the Columbia Heights CVS:
Older father and 8-ish year old son, both in blazers looking quite coiffed, are roaming the aisles with apparent frustration from the father.
Father: “Well isn’t this starting to feel Kafkaesque.”
Son: “What is Kafkaesque?”
Father: “Kafka wrote about man’s eternal search for something we would never find.”
