I call my current next-door neighbor at Thrifthaven the Nineties Hippie or the Post-Modern Hippie. He seems to have welded the 60's to the 90's to modestly interesting effect. Think tie-dyed shirt in a black trenchcoat. Very quiet dude, though. I say "hi" to him as I leave and he says nothing back. The only time we did talk was when he knocked on my door late at night to tell me I'd left my car lights on. I appreciated the sentiment and started cheerfully saying "hi" to him every time I see him. He still didn't respond, though, until almost a week ago.

I was sitting in the chair right outside Strang's place, enjoying the breeze. Out comes the Pomo Hippie with a wide grin on his face. I nod "hello" and he actually, verbally said hello. Smiling hugely. In addition to not being a talker, he's not much a smiler, either. I think it extremely odd and wonder who put what in his kool-aid.

Then I hear his door open again. A girl (probably about 18, PMH is probably 21 or 22) comes almost stumbling out. She's getting her shoes on and tucking her shirt in as she walks.

She stops when she sees me and perceptively notices, "Hey, you're white."

"Yes, I am."

"But there's usually a black guy sitting there!"

"Yes, but right now I am sitting in it and he is not."

"Cooooooool!"

She left me with the impression that she was about as dumb as a bag of bricks, but anything that can make the Pomo Hippie smile can't be all bad.