Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Mary's revolution...and Donahue goes one-on-one with O'Reilly

Today’s big march…

...reminded me of this episode for Storytelling Saturday:

Once upon a time, I worked evenings in a corporate gym (cue the shame and self-loathing) in midtown Manhattan. One night, I was wearing a Yankees t-shirt with the name “Justice” emblazoned on the back (for former Yank David Justice).

A woman named Mary, probably in her mid to late 60s, asked me if I was a Yankee fan. I told her yes, I was...but that my real reason for wearing the shirt was all about the word “justice.” She smiled and declared that justice was a “noble idea.” I braced myself for the inevitable “we need to show those towel heads some justice,” (remember, this was post-9/11 NYC) but instead, Mary told me—albeit in a whisper—she was going to Washington to march against the impending war.

After this confession, Mary looked genuinely nervous. Had she gone too far? I leaned closer and said, in my best French resistance voice:

“Don’t worry, I’m with you.”

Mary and I proceeded to talk each time she’d come to the gym, but it was usually off to the side...out of listening range. The company eventually phased out the gym but just before my last day, I saw Mary and complimented her on how hard she was training. She leaned close to me and whispered: “When the revolution comes, I’ll be ready.”

The End

Who else has a story?

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Bill vs. Phil:
http://tinyurl.com/87fl3