Field Observation: Woman Fights Crowd with Wheelchair

Date: Saturday, 2/28, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Ga., 2:30 pm.
I visited the High Museum of Art to see the exhibition, " The Terracotta Army from the Quin Dynasty " and the 2000 year old clay army that was discovered in China in 1974. You can imagine, Saturday is a very busy day for the museum, especially around mid-day when most people like to visit the museum. As I entered the exhibit, I couldn't help but notice an elderly woman that looked to be in her early sixties pushing another woman (probably her mother) in a wheelchair. The first thing that went through my mind was sorrow for the woman that had to do all the work for the woman in the wheelchair. Then I wondered why would this woman would bring her mother into the museum on a busy Saturday when she could come during the week and enjoy more of the exhibit when there is less of a crowd. This would also be helpful for her to get around because she would have more room to maneuver the wheelchair. If I were pushing the wheelchair, I would miss most of the exhibition from having to be attentive to everyone else in my way. Seeing the exhibition for me that day was tiring enough from all the walking that I had to do. I can only imagine what the lady doing all the work felt like at the end of her day. While I was watching her make her rounds, I could see other people giving her looks that made me wonder if they were thinking the same thing as I was. I don't have anything against a handicapped person and know that they need the care, but I also believe that there is a correct time and place for these activities where all parties involved can make the most of a visit to a museum. I hope that the woman in the chair enjoyed her day at the museum.

Continuation: Field Observaiton: Sunday Breakfast at IHOP
Date: Sunday, 3/1, IHOP Restaraunt, Marietta, Ga. 9:30 am
I don't usually eat breakfast at an IHOP restaurant but decided to try it on Sunday morning. When I go out to eat at a restaurant, I go there for the food although there is some time delay with ordering and food being delivered to your table. As I sat there in the restaurant waiting for my food, I noticed that all the seating arrangements were made where everyone in the restaurant were real close to each other, similar to eating at home. Well maybe not that close but I could here any conversation that was being made within 20 yards of my table. The only other reason I could not here any farther than that, was because the people within the 20 yard radius was drowning out the conversations from the other restaraunteers. The amazing thing about all the small talk is that most of these people were talking about their personal lives and I think they assumed that noone was listening to them. I would occasionally tune into some of the conversations just to here what they had to say and then tune into someone else. One mother was talking to her daughter about getting married and since I did not want to here about another marriage, I listened to a couple discuss their vacationing plans. I then begain to wonder if any of the other people were listening to the other crowd as if watching your kids at the playground. With all said and done, I finished my breakfast and left the restaraunt full of neighborly knowledge and food thinking about what conversation I could add with my next visit.