Random Night in Portland, OR

Random Night in Portland, OR

It was a night filled with excitement and unexpected encounters. My brother and I had ventured out to Portland to witness the captivating performance of Scott Bynum, a renowned musician. The concert was a resounding success, leaving us with a sense of elation and cherished memories. However, amidst the euphoria, an unfortunate incident occurred – I lost my beloved Samsung Frontier Smartwatch, a device that held sentimental value and practical significance in my daily life.

After the show, our evening took an unexpected turn as we found ourselves at a taco place that my brother had been raving about. While he indulged in his favorite dishes, I opted for a plate of nachos, hoping to savor their flavors once the lingering taste of blood and pain from an unfortunate altercation during the concert had subsided.

As we awaited our ride from my brother's girlfriend in the parking lot, an unsettling scene unfolded before our eyes. A visibly distraught homeless woman passed by, her demeanor radiating concern and distress. Mere seconds later, the source of her disquiet became apparent as a highly agitated homeless man trailed behind her, unleashing a torrent of profanities and vulgar language that echoed through the air.

The man's tirade continued unabated as he approached within mere feet of where we stood, his words laced with venom and hostility. In a surprising turn of events, the very same individual who had moments ago been spewing vitriol addressed my brother with an unexpected air of politeness, almost regal in its delivery, inquiring if he could bum a cigarette.

Taken aback by this sudden shift in demeanor, my brother and I politely declined, as neither of us partook in the habit of smoking. Undeterred, I extended an offer of my nachos to the man, hoping to diffuse the tension with a gesture of kindness.

To our astonishment, the man's response was equally unexpected. He paused, his inquisitive gaze fixed upon me, and inquired with genuine curiosity, "Are they vegan vegetarian?" Upon learning that the nachos contained carne asada, he politely declined with a simple "No, thank you, sir."

Yet, as swiftly as his demeanor had shifted, it reverted once more, and as he walked away, the torrent of profanities resumed, leaving my brother and I in a state of bewilderment, questioning the surreal nature of the encounter we had just witnessed.

That night, a midst the euphoria of a captivating concert and the disappointment of a lost treasured possession, we found ourselves navigating a series of unexpected encounters that challenged our perceptions and left us pondering the complexities of human nature.