Detour Off Highway 92

Tonight, after dropping my friend off in Alameda, I was on my way back to San Mateo and realized I didn't have enough cash to pay the bridge toll. I stopped at a Burger King right before the toll plaza to use their ATM and bought some fries to break my 20. I noticed an old bum sitting at a table with a push-basket full of various papers and books. He noticed me right away and mumbled something I couldn't hear, so I sat down near him to talk while I ate my fries.
The man introduced himself as the original Pink Cloud, and immediately began talking about music. He asked me if I play any instruments, which I don't, but I said I played the Sax when I was younger. He began talking about various artists and how he used to teach music. There was a Neil Young song playing on the Burger King sound system, so he fumbled through his cart and pulled out a notebook and flipped to the particular song. Impressed, I watched as he guided me through the various guitar notes to the song.
Pink Cloud then started talking about his life. His wife divorced him 13 years ago, which he said is how long it has been since he's seen his son. I felt sorry for the guy, but Pink Cloud is a term often used in Alcoholics Anonymous to describe someone who is over-confident in their recovery and on the verge of relapse. I'm sure his estranged wife would have plenty of reasons to give for kicking him out of the family, but she nor her son can be located, according to Pink Cloud.
Before leaving, I purchased a back-issue of The Onion from Mr. Cloud for 78 cents and wished him good luck on finding his son. If Cal-Trans hadn't raised the toll fee from $3 to $4 this year, I would have never met Pink Cloud, but I didn't mind taking a detour tonight.