I've been working overtime and needed to get away from the office and the physical building. I took a ride on the light rail train to South Pasadena. I was so close to home yet, so far! I didn't want to go back to downtown L.A., but I knew I had to.



As I Sat on the train, I was struck by how disconnected all the passengers were from each other. We'd might as well be riding in our individual bubbles, lest anyone speak to or touch another. Many passengers, like me, had ear buds thereby, sounding the warning to all who might dare, "Don't speak to me. I'm absorbed in my own world." I'm gonna have to give this more thought and intentionally leave the ear buds at the office on the next excursion. It will be interesting to see if I'm approached



I returned to the office feeling a little sad about not interacting with anyone and thought of the irony: hundreds of people chat online for hours with complete strangers, not knowing if the person they're investing time in is honestly portraying himself. Yet, in real life, we don't give each other the time of day. I felt refreshed and ready to work and I was so happy to get outdoors and the feel the heat for awhile. Back in my icebox, I donned my sweater and settled in.