People who talk to themselves while walking down sidewalks.

I'm an insurance agent so my office is basically in my car and my car is primarily in metropolitan Nashville. Even though I was born and raised in Nashville, I lived 30 years in a small town in East Tennessee so I still get a bit of culture shock when I see people walking down the sidewalk talking to, well, no one. Not anyone I can see anyway. It is not a random, occasional occurance either. It happens almost every day when I venture into the urban core. Perhaps some of these folk are mentally ill and homeless but certainly not all of them. Sometimes I wonder if the person just had a bad breakup or an argument with a friend and they are still working through some of their frustrations by speaking or shouting them into the universe.

The other day I was sitting in my car eating a sandwich at an Arby's in the Metro Center area of Nashville. (Oh, my car is also my lunchroom.) If you are unfamiliar with the area, there are quite a few businesses there but not many places to eat. A man came walking down the sidewalk in front of my car and, sure enough, his lips were moving and I didn't see any earphones. He passed by and then I saw a well-dressed lady carrying a purse and a drink approaching. I thought to myself. "Now, this is a professional lady out on her lunch hour getting a little exercise." Then she suddenly pointed at the street and shouted "RAGGEDITY" or something like that. Every few feet she would point into the street and shout "RAGGEDITY." When she passed in front of my car, I noticed she was wearing a back-pack. She continued on up the sidewalk screaming at the street.

As I finished my Beef 'n Cheddar, the first guy walked back passed me carrying a Subway bag. When he had passed the first time, he was probably saying to himself, "Don't forget to call Joe when you get back." It was either that or, "I'm sooo hunnngry." (Sorry -- It's a quote from another street talker.)