A FACE IN THE CROWD

I remember the Autumn day in 1973 when I was walking down the main street in Cathlamet one afternoon.

Minding my own business, lost in my head - not thinking of anything ... just walking.

And this tall guy came storming out of Marie's Restaurant.

The door flew open; I side-stepped it - briefly glancing up at the person who had barreled out of it.

The face was angry.

But, it was 'THE FACE'!

And he was storming down the street.

Past me again; WITHOUT SEEING ME.

A.G.A.I.N.

I was shocked as I watched 'the face' storm down the street, on long legs that ate up the sidewalk with long strides.

Shocked, because I hadn't expected to ever again see 'the face'.

And before the door could even close back in on itself - it slammed open again: and an equally angry-faced woman came storming out of the restaurant too; dragging a toddler with her.

When I finally snapped out of my trance (stunned, actually, at seeing "the face" again), and caught the flung open door in my hand, before it hit the side of my head ... I snapped, "Watch where the hell you are going, lady!"

She ignored me ... and walked briskly in the opposite direction: without even looking at me, or acknowledging my comment.

And ... my attention had been caught by her exit long enough to lose track of 'the face's quick moving direction.

All I knew was that he HAD BEEN MOVING towards 'Bob's' Grocery ... so, I ran in that direction.

TO NO AVAIL.

HE WAS GONE.

A.G.A.I.N.

'The face' had become - once more - "a face in the crowd": BUT WHERE?

Where had he disappeared to so quickly?

This is what Main Street, Cathlamet looked like in the 1970’s, when we met and started our life together there. It took about 5 seconds to exit main Street, and about 5 minutes TO WALK THE ENTIRE TOWN (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/07/sunday-funday.html).

Damn it!

That stupid woman ...!

'The face' would reappear in my life, 7 months later.

And, when Bob & I met & talked in April 1974, I would find out that {that stupid woman} was 'the face's soon-to-be-ex/wife: and that stormy encounter at the restaurant, was the beginning of their final separation.

And "the face in the crowd" would become a permanent fixture in my life for the next 44 years ;-)

I love you, Babe.

Always.

OX