A small miracle happened yesterday in a Studio City parking lot. After hooking me in with a compliment about my bubble bag, a genial stranger, (now with the rapport of an old friend or a cult recruiter), approached me presumably to ask for a donation to something noble I wasn’t in any position to help with. We locked eyes. But before he could get the words out, I had the presence of mind to pivot to my own crowdfunding efforts. I pulled out my phone to show him the campaign and everything, and like magic, without an awkward shrug off, or a grouchy “leave me alone", I was able to drive him away. And so we parted peacefully with smiles on our faces.
