Aaron's 3rd try's a charm

We arrive in the pouring rain, hail even, but it proves to be a good thing. People slow naturally at the corner to be under the cover of the awning before having a go at the hill and we are able to approach them naturally. Somehow the storminess proves a bonding experience, big drops on the face as we look up. I feel a force of nature as I push people up with the wind alive and pushing as well. I chaparone a few LIFTs with an umbrella, and as the updraft catches it I feel I could fly, so light is the feeling.

The rain stops, a sea change, blue sky and glorious, Scott manning the corner with easy perserverence, and all of us pushing up more people than any other day. He has a routine to it, basically the same line every time, and I realize that allows him to both save his creative energy for those who stop or slow down or ask why, and also avoid the emotional risk of investing in your approach to the stranger. He is good though, has a certain ease of a salesman, but fun. I try to take notes, augmenting my strengths with his.

My strength is the talkers. Guys like Hollis who come up, talking a mile a minute, do a little improv dance of their own and enter into a little verbal dance of stories and witticisms, and of course they always do it with me. Hollis described himself in three words at my asking. Aimless, mindless, directionless, Hollis, because its less. Like some strange advertisement. I enjoyed talking with him, hearing about his wandering ways. He likes to walk in parks and talk to strangers, I ask him if he does both at the same time much. All the while we are talking he is spilling salad oils from a plastic container, sloshing it around for emphasis as he talks. I ask him to post thoughts on the blog, because he has a philosophical bent, but he is nontechnological, doesn't fool with computers at all.

I really feel my confidence take off. What would once be traumatic if not unthinkable, today I take it in stride, asking strangers if they want a lift even if I am the lone soul on the corner. Confidence really is a drug. I start to understand the addiction of the 'yes' and the boredom of the ensuing interaction, but I try to keep probing on the way up, avoiding the small talk questions and sticking to trying to have a real and openning experience with a stranger. Feeling someones back open into my hands like an eloquent sentence about trust remains the most satisfying sensation in the project, but dancing and flying down the hill can be pretty exhilerating as well.

We met an art student who had seen the chalk remains of our other days but never seen us. It was cool to hear about his experience of the chalk only, the mystery and wonder of having these words that don't make sense when we the LIFTers aren't around. Helped me to see our impact in a broader way.

Lastly, I was exhausted when we ended, as usual, but in a different way. Elated, satisfied, physically more tired because I worked harder LIFTing more people, socially less drained because I had gotten more back from my interactions. It makes me think of the types of exhaustion. Currently I am experiencing the last electronic missive before bed, bleary eyed exhaustion. Tommorow it will be the up before its light with happy morning son, slightly uncoordinated body exhaustion.
aaron