I hope this worker gets a paid holiday on Memorial Day.

Riding the bus west across the Hawthorne Bridge, on my way to transfer to a 12 or a 19 at SW 6th and Yamhill to ensure that I get a seat for the rest of the home-bound commute, I saw this man reading. Seeing people reading is not unusual on any kind of mass transit here in Portland. What's unique for me here is the fact that he's obviously a construction worker, reading at 4 p.m., reading David Baldacci, one of my favorite authors. He's intensely involved with Deliver Us from Evil--look at the concentration on his face. When thinking about this now-upon-us-three-day weekend, I remembered taking this photo and wondered if the reader/worker gets a paid holiday on Monday. I hope so. I hope he'll be reading some of that time, spending time with his family, setting an example of a working man who enjoys a good read. I hope he'll join in a celebration of Memorial Day.