The Lift - KT - 1st "Official" Day

1st “official” day but 3rd time at the market. Our chalk from almost one week ago was still faint on the sidewalk. We had Ricki with us this time and Ruth and Adam taking photographs. It was 5pm instead of noon and cloudy. I spent the day making buttons and sending emails re: the final day. Ruth made cards to give away and we sleuthed out a list of steep hills in Seattle. It was a big arts and crafts day.
I pushed a drunk guy up who gave almost no weight at first and toward the end did a funny, herky jerky stutter stop thing with me to try and psyche me out. It was a dance for sure. He smelled like alcohol and blew a kiss to me at the end, telling me I was cute. OK – there’s that experience.
Ricki was full on ballsey – B and Ricki made quite a team. Lots of soliciting – able to just go up to someone and ask. I watched in awe. There was Batgirl – a girl dressed in cape, boots and mask – walking around. Aaron tried to engage her and she declined. I wanted to see Batgirl get pushed up the hill.
Everyone says “that’s ok I can manage”.
I’m starting to see an archetype of woman repeat. The one who thinks she’s fat or is fat – doesn’t matter – who has her “don’t fuck with me” armor on. She will never let anyone push her up a hill.
Out of protection for myself, I gravitate to the “nice” person. Looks like me, I guess. White, healthy, educated looking – an easy target. I don’t want to engage with the meth head with spider web tattoos all over his neck. He walks the hill a lot. I gave the guy asking me for change a button. He took it but he didn’t want it. We were sharing the street with a group of 5 company co-workers who were on a treasure hunt today. They needed to find Batgirl. Oh, that’s why she’s dressed like that… Aaron and I ran/pushed them up the hill because they were in such a fripping hurry. It was good to feel that run rush. Aaron started a dance down the hill – effortlessly hopping from sidewalk to wall to sign post. I was inspired and danced too. B gave a solo at the top of the hill to her people and the three of us had the hill covered. I tried to talk to a middle aged, down and out African American worm and and she was having none of me. A fit, young couple LIT up to the offer – “YES!” they said, “we’d LOVE to have a lift!” (what?!). Aaron and B sent them up side by side. Aaron thought he could have literally picked her off the ground. So willing – they leaned back and were swept away.