Ready and Forward

An Event Apart San Francisco 2007 is almost over — right now, we're in a session break before Jeffrey Zeldman's closing presentation. It's been a fantastic and inspiring two-day event, and I hope to make a more thorough write-up soon, but I wanted to capture one transcendent moment from a few minutes ago.

During the break between Eric Meyer and Aaron Gustafson, I headed to the other side of the Palace to use the men's restroom that didn't have a queue. At the restroom sink, I waited as an elderly man with a cane and a newsboy cap washed his hands. He was hunched over with age, and moved slowly and deliberately, as if the task of turning on a faucet demanded his most intense concentration.

As he turned from the sink with shuffling steps, I noticed pins on the lapel of his navy blazer: a sergeant's rank insignia, crossed cavalry swords, and a silver "10."

"Did you serve?" I asked him softly.

He turned his head up and peered at me with eyes squinted almost shut. "Eh?"

It was then that I noticed the brown buffalo pin beside the crossed swords. My eyes widened as I repeated my question. "Did you serve?"

His expression didn't change, but he answered: "Yes. Yes I did."

He started to turn to the door, drying his hands with a paper towel. "A long time ago. Long before you."

As he shuffled toward the door, I called after him. "Thank you."

He stopped with the door open, turned his head, and acknowledged me with a nod.

"You're welcome."

I looked for him after leaving the restroom, and watched as he made his way slowly up the lobby stairs into the sunlight that fell through the hotel's immense glass entrance.

Getting back to my laptop in the conference room, I confirmed with Wikipedia what I suspected: the man was probably a member of the 10th Cavalry Regiment — an original Buffalo Soldier.