Steve Thomas |
Get your mind out of the gutter. I didn't mean it that way.
Anyway, this guy was walking down the side of a busy downtown street on crutches. That's not so unusual, right? Maybe it is, maybe it's not.
The thing was, this guy was dressed in hospital garb. Not like a doctor would dress, but more like a patient.
He was wearing those little paper slippers, the hospital gown where half his ass was hanging out, two little wristbands on his right arm and an IV tube sticking out of his hand. He was just shuffling along right by the Music Hall like he didn't have a care in the world.
Now my question is: What, exactly, is the socially responsible thing to do? Does one stop to help the befuddled gentleman, or should one laugh at the plight of the unfortunate and go on about his or her business?
I chose the latter. You see, I was in a very big hurry and he was on the other side of the road. I would have had to make a U-turn. It would take too much time, and I was already late. At least that's how I rationalize my decision.
But what should I have done? Remember, the news was buzzing about a judge who had killed a homeless escaped mental patient earlier in the day. Now, I don't know if the guy I saw was an escaped mental patient, but there was certainly something odd about him.
Luckily, I didn't really have to decide. Just as I was hitting the U-ey, a police car pulled up and presumably handled the situation. I didn't stick around - I beat feet because I was late.
But enough about me and my goofy life. That's the last crazy story you are gonna get out of me. I will wait for the applause to die down before I proceed.
OK, it is time to wind this school year down and head off into the sunset.
For me, it has been a great semester. I have enjoyed writing my little ditties, and I hope you have enjoyed reading them.
There are just a few people I want to recognize before I sign off.
Of course I need to say thanks to the editors and staff of the Cougar. I hope everybody out there realizes how lucky we are to have them. These people work very hard and get little public recognition, and they have to put up with Fabian Vaksman and his lunatic rantings.
I also want to apologize to my friend Cat. She has been asking me all semester to write a column about her. Well, Cat, will you settle for a paragraph?
And, of course, I have to thank Ray. He has been the unnamed friend I have talked about in a few of the more controversial columns. He and I think totally different thoughts, and I am lucky to have his insight. Props to Ray.
Finally, I want to congratulate. Rolando Garces is graduating this month and will be commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. In October, he will head to Pensacola, where he will enter flight school. Rolando is the only member of this year's Naval ROTC class at Rice University, which includes several University of Houston students, to be accepted for training to become a naval aviator. Safe flight, Rolando - remember, complacency kills, and great job.
Finally, I want to leave with a gem of advice. I know most of you out there work hard and have families. There is very little free time as it is. But try to take some of that precious free time to enjoy your life here at UH, and get involved. After all, college should be experienced, not endured.
Thomas is a senior
journalism major.