While walking to lunch today I passed by the Philips Arena box office.  People were gathered around, some in line for tickets, and I was curious as to what was going on.  As I got closer, a scraggily black man appeared from behind a column.  He had multiple layers, a red winter cap, and Barack Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” in his hand.  He approached me.

“Hey man, you need some tickets?”

I walked a few steps forward – sort of ignoring him – then turned to ask, “who’s in town?” 

He cracked open his book to reveal a stack of tickets and answered, “The Thrashers.”

“Ah,” I thought.  Not a fan of hockey.  I politely told him “no thanks” and he persisted a bit, trying to make the sale.  I turned to him, walking backward, and said, “I half thought you were going to tell me Barack Obama was in town.  Now those are some tickets I’d buy!”

He retorted, “yeah man!  You should give me the money!  I am him!”

I chuckled and shook my head as I turned to walk on… the audacity of hope, indeed.