I've had the same thought many, many times. Slightly different wording, identical thought.

With me it's wondering how much in common I might have with someone. I would like to speak the same language to feel reassured, have them from the same country, the same side of the country, the same state, the same city, and so on.

I watched a kid on a bus the other day. I have to admit to not having much to think about, so I wondered about his wardrobe. (I absolutely delight in riding a bike and taking a bus to go to the doctor, for instance. Sorta tells 'em something.)

Did this guy wake up, look in the closet, and choose the black dog collar instead of the red one for a reason? Does he have two?

Did he choose to put on the light yellow shorts instead of the gray ones, or was that what was on top? They are visible above his belt, which is barely hanging on his ass.

Did he pick out the black pants, which would fit if he pulled the waist up to his nipples, and then let them sag halfway down his butt for a reason, passing up the chinos and jeans? Did the cuffs and legs wear to a frazzle or did he do that on purpose? For what purpose?

The T-shirt. It's clean. Did he choose the shirt which would display the prison tattoos on his arms and lower back on purpose, passing up a shirt which would have covered the prison tattoos but left exposed the professional ones on his lower arm?

The wallet in his hip pocket attached to a belt loop with a metal chain. Can hook that on without looking, or does he have to do it before he puts his pants on? Does that keep it safe, and what is inside the wallet he is keeping safe?

The boots. Does he have any others, or are these it? The metal studs are similar to the dog collar, don't seem to have a purpose, but the zippers must be easier to work than tieing a bow after a hard night.

Do I have anything in common with this person? Not much. I've met a bunch of them, know that by themselves they are like anyone else, helpful, decent, thoughtful. But only because I know them, have had to deal with them in the past.

I'm like anyone else, I guess. Only comfortable around people I believe I could know. Frankly, some people scare the hell out of me. I avoid them. And there are a lot of factors in the process. Not all of them rational. And they are all people I sense don't have my values, whatever they are.

Show me someone who won't admit to that, and I'll show you some wild-eyed filled-with-love-more-than-likely-liberal who will be saying how at one time they loved and trusted everyone and don't anymore after a tour in the real world.

My issue is to get to know as many kinds of people as possible. And, there's a lot of them. Will never be able to do it.

Have a good trip.

Arf