The people I see everywhere

There are two groups of people in my life who I see all the time, yet have no idea who they are. I don't know their names, professions, the location or their homes or anything about them, really, but I just see them everywhere. The first group appear all along the path of my daily routine, especially on the bus ride or drive to school. And their continued presence is expected, really. Most people have routines; I am part of theirs, they are part of mine. One such person is the old man who walks around our Thornbury streets most days, holding his hands behind his back as they noticeably shake. I think he must have Parkinson's disease and walking probably helps him. I painted a portrait of him once, because I like him so much. It was just of his hands. He never looks at me, though, so I don't get to smile or say hello as I pass. But that's ok. This is a picture of the painting. (First painting I've ever done, so don't get excited!)

There are also two school girls who I see whenever I drive to school. One wears big fly sunglasses and walks with her arms crossed, looking thoroughly poised and closed. The other waits at a bus stop a bit further along the drive. She has a very severe, orange fringe. Then, there is also the boy on the bus (when I say 'boy', he's probably about my age) who has a very strange, contorted sort of face. In my own unjustified, fearful way, I was inititally quite scared of him whilst we waited at the bus stop together and hoped that he didn't get off at my stop. Then as the bus pulled up, he stepped aside at the door and ushered me through first. I felt silly and ashamed and have smiled at him ever since; wishing every time that I'd just smiled at him in the first place, regardless.
Then, there's the second group of unknown people in my life who are often not in the same place each time. It's as if they roam around Melbourne, intentionally bumping into me and pretending not to know me. They are so familiar to me that I am not even surprised when I see them anymore. Today, on the way home from pilates (pronounced, in our household as 'PIE-Late-S') I saw one of my beloved randoms walking up Blythe street. This little old lady is a walking machine. She is everywhere... not just in my neighbourhood. I have seen her walking so far from here that I wonder sometimes if she just walks and walks, all day every day. I also wonder why she does it. But I don't know. She is very, very small with huge glasses, bright white runners and a colourful scarf tied around her head. Today was exciting because I actually took a sneaky photo of her from the car, without revealing her face, so I don't feel too bad about posting it on my blog! This is her.

When I showed Kate, she was like, 'Oh I see her too!' so, perhaps a lot of people do. I would love it if one day someone I didn't know came up to me and said, 'Hello, you're my person who I see everywhere.'