Two individuals–both inherently strangers–have managed to baffle me with their curious behavior in the past few days.

Case #1: Standing in the hall at the movie theater, answering a call on my cell phone, I noticed a man walking past me. Just barely noticed him. Then, about thirty seconds later, I noticed him walking past in the opposite direction, this time carrying a Taco Bell bag and a jumbo soft drink. I stared at him. I stared back the way he’d come, and put two and two together. This dude had left his lunch at the side door, gone to buy his ticket, and then come back to retrieve the lunch. I didn’t know whether to be impressed or disapproving. I certainly don’t approve of the outrageous prices of movie theater snacks, but I also think it’s marginally tacky to smuggle in food. Of course I do it–but I think a few Dum-Dum lolly-pops is a little different than a couple of bean burritos and a plate of nachos. Maybe that’s hypocritical of me.

Case #2: We’ve been getting a lot of rain lately and it’s been difficult to time when to mow our lawn–when it’s dry enough and there’s little chance of actually getting caught in a thunderstorm. So yesterday I thought I had my window. I hustled outside and started up the mower. At about seventy-eight degrees and breezy, it was actually a lovely time to mow on a Houston summer day, and I was about two-thirds of the way finished with the front lawn when I looked up to see my across-the-street neighbor watching me–and clapping. As I mentioned, this man is virtually a stranger. He’s never outside, except when he’s working on his own lawn, and we’ve only really exchanged some casual chat on yardwork and the weather. However, he has witnessed me mowing my lawn many times, so I’m not sure what the clapping was about. Was I just doing a really good job? Was I mowing with that perfect touch of style and flair? I’m befuddled…but proud of myself…I guess. I have a fan.