The mirrored, the opaque

I love watching people on the train with their effortless slickness. You watch enough and you realize they're just as self-consciously insecure as you are.

Here's the guy with the sunglasses like a shield further buffered from the now with his Ipod. He's busy but oh-so-cool.

There's the guy with an all too together not at all planned out and put together look of tweed, stripes, plaid and undone gelled hair. He's hiding behind his paper and leaves to go off to a life that has to be fabulous. He probably toils away by day at the Gap in order to live while dreaming unfulfilled dreams.

So many people with lives I might envy. Bt if I and they knew the truth, it might be my life they envy.

This guy over here is far too tall and not at all comfortable in his skin. Thin, hunched, antsy, trying to shrink but still standing out in his wrinkled professorial clothing. I wonder where he's going.

They liken us to books. With covers. That has a deep ring of truth. Never judge a book by it's cover. We all wear veneers for society. We don't want anyone to know who we really are. And we offer up something half opaque half mirrored thinking we are hiding what we don't want anyone knowing.

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Wise words, indeed.