ORANGE HAIRED LADY SIGHTING

Ok, on Tues. (Dec. 23) I was heading for the bus to go home and saw an elderly lady talking to some young women at the corner as I walked by. I've seen this woman before because she dresses pretty outlandish, and she's always got this huge rag tied around her head.

The one thing that I hadn't noticed before was "orange hair" peeking out from all this wrapped hair and rags. COULD IT BE?? IS IT REALLY HER??? I looked at her clothing and she was dressed in a beautiful full red skirt with crinoline underneath. The skirt also had gold trim and she wore a red jacket or blouse. She had so much stuff in her arms and on her body, I couldn't tell where one thing ended and the other began.

I immediately began looking for my camera. Oh no! It was at the bottom of my tote bag. My arms were full with Christmas bags, so I couldn't quite reach it. And then I saw the bus approaching.

As I got on the bus and sat down, I saw her get on too and she sat in the first seat right behind the driver. I searched for my camera again, but she held her head down and hid her face behind all her packages.

C'mon lady, give me a break here! You're right here, right here and I can't get to my camera. There were people blocking my view too, so I couldn't very well ask them to move so that I could get a shot of this eccentric lady in the red outfit.

I almost got off at her stop, but I had to pack that night to leave town for Christmas vacation. I'm making progress though. I know that she lives in my neighborhood. So I will not miss the next opportunity to either talk to her or get her photo......I will show the world who you are Orange Haired Lady!!

She's as infamous as the Asian woman who used to ride the bus with me who wore decorative face masks and carried awesome handbags. I may have mentioned her in an earlier post, but the great thing was that this Asian woman and I did speak about one particular purse she was carrying because I just loved it. From her inspiration, I made a similar purse and submitted it to be published in Haute Handbags...and they accepted it. Thank you wonderous and mysterious women of the universe...you are in my presence for a reason.

THE ORANGE HAIRED LADY

I was waiting on a subway platform one evening when this elderly woman with Orange hair walked by. I could tell she was a woman of the world by her attire, not to mention that big orange wig she was wearing. She was dressed rather fashionably in a well worn leather jacket and boots with shirts tied around her waist. She was a bit displaced, as she was mumbling to herself, but I couldn't help myself. I found her fascinating and watched as she walked to the far end of the platform and boarded the train as its doors opened.

I said to myself, "I can't believe her hair." I wished I had thought to take a picture, but I didn't.

Some months later I was going home on the Metro train, and this woman walked past me from the rear and sat in a seat two rows ahead of me. I could not believe that it was the Orange-haired lady again. I pulled out my camera phone and took a snapshot. I couldn't believe my luck to see her again and get a chance to take this photo.

I just sat there in amazement, thinking about her; how she came to create her persona. What was with the orange hair? I was too embarassed to walk to the front and try to take a picture of her face.

So I left the train smiling because fate brought her to me again, but left me realizing - who she is and who she was will have to remain a mystery.