Sunday, May 10, 2009

Louie

I've seen him countless times since I arrived in Boston, but one time in particular sticks out in my memory.

It was during a date last summer.  It was a sunny weekend, and I was walking down Newbury Street with the girl.  We were chatting pleasantly, on our way to the downtown theater when it happened.

"Mooove!  Mooove!  Mooove!"

Similar in beat and repetition to the bleeping noise a construction vehicle makes while in reverse, the warning noise was heading straight toward us.  The crowds began to part.  Tourists craned their necks towards the sound, and locals smiled and nudged their friends.

Flags rising from the rear of his tricycle, feet pumping in their steady and endless rhythm, he appeared, shouting his usual mantra.  When he got within ten feet of us, I waved and greeted him happily with, "Hi Louie!"

He stopped shouting long enough to nod sagely at me before continuing on his way, peddling into the distance.

The girl turned towards me in utter amazement.  She looked at me as if I had just randomly high-fived Hugh Jackman or shook hands with the president.  "You know him!?"

"What?  No, I wish," I replied.

"Well then how the heck did you know his name?  I've seen that guy riding around a billion times."

I shrugged.  "He has Facebook groups and fan clubs based on him.  He's famous."

And he is.  I just saw this neat video based on him.  Check it out to see a Boston legend.  Creds to the awesome filmmakers who put it together:


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It just goes to show that, again, stories are everywhere.  If you're ever feeling stuck, strike up a conversation with that person who catches your eye.  You know who he/she is.  After all, some of the best adventures start out with merely a simple greeting.

2 comments:

  1. I have a feeling that we'll end up doing something like this when we get old and a little... off.

    ReplyDelete