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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Solitary Man


The solitary man. He walks alone. The sands squish underfoot. The waves lap at his side. The wind slaps his face. He must be cold. He wears a jacket and stuffs his hands in the pockets for warmth. Does he have a destination? Or is his walk merely for relaxation?

What is he thinking as he plods along the deserted shoreline? How far is he going? How far has he already come? Does he notice the thousands of footprints that have already trod this stretch of beach? The telltale impact of countless feet...yet where are the masses who left these marks?

A cloudless blue sky. A curvy, tan ribbon of beach. A man in black. Scenic beauty. Quiet stillness. What awaits this solitary man? Will he turn around and go back the way he came? Or will he travel forward...round the far bend? Just to see what's there. Is he curious? Or does he already know what he will find?

I follow behind this stranger. At a distance. With my sleek, ultra-slim camera. He is unaware of my stealthy photo snapping. I follow him because I too am curious...about him.  We round the bend. He turns back. At last, he sees me. We nod a greeting. I am tempted to speak and carry on a bit of chat with him. But I decide against it. I let him go without a word. He climbs up a hill into the dunes and disappears. I continue walking...seeking out my next solitary man.




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22 comments:

Bossy Betty said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and following too! You aren't going to take lots of photos of me as you follow me, are you?

Kathy said...

Good post, for a minute I thought you were posting about Neil Diamond. It was interesting and I have wondered the same thing at times.

jabblog said...

You're not a stalker, are you? ;-)
I liked your lighthouse post - your photos are wonderful, so clear.

ReformingGeek said...

You will make good paparazzi. ;-)

Nice writing!

Jude said...

Is he single? Is he rich?

Laurent said...

Thanks for visting my Paris Blog and welcome among my followers.

Leanne said...

Hmmmmm . . . people watching at it's finest. Excellent storytelling here. Who shall we watch next, eh? (oh, and thanks for stopping by my blog! I'll be back!)

Fran Hill said...

Ah, people-watching. My favourite hobby.

Succot said...

Makes you think how many paths we cross without knowing someone elses's destination. Thanks for commenting on my blog and following.

gayle said...

Love your post and picture!!

Cheeseboy said...

Solitary Man eh? Neil Diamond would be proud. Good post/

Thanks for visiting my blog, but I don't see you amongst my followers. What is your moniker name?

Bunnym said...

Now if you can only follow sweet caroline...


tootles,
bunny

Unknown said...

OOOOO that beach. I want to be there and so does my dog. Don't you just love people watching? It's fun to guess who they are, where they're from, and what their lives are like. You did a great job with this post. Rosemary

Arkansas Patti said...

Thanks for stopping by TNS.
I would have had a conversation, especially since he looked so good from behind. I'm guessing he is a rich widower.

The bike shed said...

Nice post. Good idea.
I like watching people in cafes too.

BlueRidge Boomer said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog.....us baby boomers have got to stick together.....came back often...

Enjoy

Nedine Says said...

Hey Boomer Pie, Nice to meet you. I think The Solitary Man might be Michael Douglas doing a not so subtle plug for his new movie aptly named "Solitary Man" soon to open at a theater near you. I am looking forward to reading your blog. Nedine

Lindsey Buck said...

I love this. Fantastic, and I loved the image of you following this guy from behind. I really, really want to go to the beach now...

alissa {33shadesofgreen} said...

Beautiful photo - is it Lake Michigan?

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower - I'm looking forward to following you too!

Bob West said...

I enjoyed visiting your blog. Very insightful! Hopefully, mine will be an encouragement to you.
God Bless, Bob West

http://westbob.blogspot.com/2010/05/god-vs-science.html

Bombshellicious said...

Love the solitary walking on the beach xx

Marla said...

This photo is brilliant. Love it!

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