The Plight of the Publicly Playful

Yesterday on a bench on the beach: As I was putting my shoes on, I was joined by an Asian man wearing Lederhosen and a feathered, bebuttoned hat. I was stunned and inspired by his brazen silliness and made my admiration known to him. He took out a flask and asked me if I wanted some whiskey. I declined. He explained that it really wasn't whiskey, but some kind of chocolate drink. Then he offered me a cigarette, which I also declined. He appeared a bit more distraught than indicated by his generousity or costume. After a moment's prompting, he explained to me that a couple of "surfer kids" had thrown a cigarette lighter at him as he biked by. He had picked up the lighter and returned it to them, and an apparently minor, but disturbing altercation ensued. Eight miles later, he was still in that moment. So, here was this person, a veritable standard-bearer for frivolity, spiritually sickened by a couple of kids who couldn't accept the power of his public playfulness. Much commiseration ensued. We gifted each other deeply.