Amid the chaos of Black Friday

Himanee and I decided to take part in Black Friday Festivities for the first time this morning.  We walked down Pine Street to Old Navy for the 3 am opening. 

The walk through Capitol Hill into downtown in the wee hours of the morning is amazing loud and chaotic: we cross carefully, dodging taxi cabs and cars speeding down the arterials uninhibited by other traffic. 

(Jim Gupta-Carlson)

Old Navy was also buzzing; shoppers with armfuls and bags full of clothes.  Christmas gifts – or perhaps like us taking advantage of a day we can get a few outfits for less than a paycheck.

We walked down Second Avenue to Pioneer Square at 3:45 and the world changed.  I’m used to being in the neighborhood in the late morning through the afternoon and being inundated with noise, motion and smell.  At this hour it is quiet - not quite asleep but resting.  My senses become acute; I can feel people a block away. 

Yet at the same time they disappear into the streets, the buildings and the alleys as though they were one.  

(Jim Gupta-Carlson)

In front of a shelter, we exchange good morning greetings with a few men, along with a cigarette and then bump into them again thirty minute later.  “Sure could use a few more hours of sleep” we all agree.