Snatches of the Day

Walking out of my Afro-Hispanic Identity class (held in the Physics building for, I'm sure, some genius reason), headed to the bus stop. Suited professor walking on one side of the road, smug frat boy on the other. He calls out, from across the street, "Hey, Professor so-and-so! Did you get those papers graded?" Professor, unsuccessfully trying to ignore him, "No, not yet." Frat boy brazenly replies, "When are you going to get them done?" Professor, continuing to walk, "When they're all turned in." I, disbelieving, walking in front of the Professor after this exchange, turn around and say, with a hint of instructorial camaraderie, "Isn't that annoying?" Professor replies, "Yes . . . especially with that student." I laugh. "It's just so brazen, you know?" Professor asks, "Are you a professor? Do you teach here?" "Oh, no, but I've taught in the past, and that whole thing rang familiar." But what I really wanted to answer was: "Not yet."

Sitting at an outside table of a Vietnamese bistro downtown, tearing UP a banh mi ga (not even $5!) for lunch. A girl with natural hair and velvet skin walks out with her man and comments, "You look really stylish today," and keeps walking. I told her thank you, but I don't think she realized she made my day.

Heard twice today: "Love the flower." I told one guy that it was my favorite flower, and he said "It fits." It was one of those days that called for my sunflower hair clip.