Caption This 53

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Boynton Beach, FL, December 2007 [Click to embiggen]

It's a glorious day in South Florida. I'm on my way back to the fam after running an errand. Happy tunes waft out the open sunroof as I slow down for a red light on this broad, palm tree-lined boulevard. For as far as the eye can see, luxury cars glide past gated communities, their perfectly coiffed drivers chatting on cell phones, almost oblivious to the world around them.

And then this scene emerges out of the corner of my eye, a stark contrast to this land of supposed opportunity. I'm two lanes over, and my Canadian sensibility prompts me to check that the doors are locked and that I've got somewhere to go if this guy starts walking toward the car. Yes, I'm paranoid, and I feel a moment of shame as I let those thoughts leave as fast as they arrived.

But I'm not too ashamed to reach for my camera, preset it and snap off the fastest photo I can before the light turns green and he drifts into my rearview mirror for good. Something tells me I want to remember this moment of paradox with a picture, that it's a story I'll want to tell when I get home.

So here it is.

Your turn: What is the story of this individual? Please suggest a caption - one, two or as many as you wish - and I'll choose the top one by this time next week.

About last week's image of a mop leaning against the back of an old building: I think I need to spend more time hanging around decaying structures because this one generated a lot of diverse caption ideas. First, the honorables - and there are many:

• Stacy: "If I just put the mop under the doorknob like so...."
• Lil Knitter: "It's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it."
• Roth Family Adventures: "Lavatory of broken dreams."
• BreadBox: "Cletis and LouannaBeth were proud of their matching his-and-hers out-houses."
• David: "leaning heavily against the wall, she moped and dripped huge tears in the sad realization that the Swiffer Wet Jet had replaced her, forever."
• JC: "Save the last dance for me."
• Jenty: "If I leave it here long enough, do you think it'll clean itself?"
• Robin: "When it's time to go..." and "Clean break."
• Vanessa: "transamerica"
• Kathryn: "Please clean up after yourself. The Management"
• Mr. Althouse: "Blue mop holding up a lonely wall."
• Joan: "Oh, where's my fairy godmother when I need her?"
• Anne: "Mop and Glow."
• Tiel Aisha Ansari: "Behind Door 1, the bucket of your dreams. Behind Door 2... a WRINGER!"

This week's nod goes to Mama DB for "Rode hard and put up wet." It made me smile and think, and it brought me right back to the very transient moment when I shot it.

One more thing: It's been just about a year since I started posting Caption This. Thank you all for playing along with me. It's been more fun than I ever could have anticipated. If you're curious and want to see more CT entries, click here. I'm already looking forward to seeing what 2008 brings us all. Enjoy...and thanks to you all for making it such a rewarding journey!