I’m crossing the street in a busy section of downtown Pasadena. When I reach the middle of the intersection I see an older, frail-looking man striking out in the opposite direction. He’s carrying a large shoulder bag from which an old-fashioned transistor radio is peaking out, and I think I can hear the soft jangle of an easy listening station as he passes by me. The man walks with a pronounced limp, and pauses for half-a-second between each step. At this rate, I think, he’s not going to make it across before the light changes. I wonder whether I should do something to help, perhaps try to halt oncoming traffic; but when I turn back I see that at the midpoint of the street the man has abruptly changed direction and is heading diagonally across the intersection. Cars have started advancing meanwhile, and soon the intersection is flooded with traffic. The limping man is undeterred, and sticks to his course, seemingly oblivious to the risks. A man in a jogging suit is crossing the street from the opposite corner, and when he sees the limping man headed his way he begins walking alongside him, talking animatedly (presumably imploring him to walk faster). The limping man simply waives him off and continues his painstaking, shuffling advance. Eventually the jogger gives up and jogs off, and the limping man reaches the opposite corner, where he continues onto the sidewalk in the same limp-halt-limp manner, and soon disappears into the midday sidewalk traffic.