Late yesterday, Jim was standing at an Observer newsroom window staring, yet again, at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge construction site as crews began putting in place the opposite side of the center arch. Jim was eating from a plate of ginger snaps resting on the windowsill, one after the other after the other.
I sidled up next to him and stood there, oh, three, four minutes. He didn't notice. Finally, I said, "Whatcha lookin' at?"
He jumped, startled. And he said, "Nothin'."