The Man at Baggage Claim

So this has a nice little story behind it.

Rarely am I compelled to draw something I see in real life, usually I'm just inspired by it. I'll see something and one thought will lead to another and I'll get to the eventually 'Wouldn't it be cool if...' thought. Thats not the case with this picture.

The man depicted was quite real (I assure you) and is in no way a figment of my imagination. I went on a vacation about mid-March. This was a multi-flight occasion, and we (me and my family) were visiting exotic places. On one of the flights back, I was sleeping with my head down on the fold out tray (the one you normally sit food on). My sister (sitting next to me) starts elbowing me in the ribs. Naturally, Im quite irritated, and simply voice my disapproval with a grunt (or maybe it was more like 'Eeeeeng!'.

"Get up stupid your missing him!"

"Missing what?"

"JUST LOOK YOUR MISSING HIM!"

I look, out in the isle, where people are loading onto the plane. Nobody of interest. Nothing sticks out.

"What am I looking for?"

"You suck! You missed it!"

And so I went on having missed it. Boohoo. I was just irritated that I had been roused from my slumber. After the flight landed, we went to get our baggage. This was a retardedly (<- My spellcheck says that isnt a word (it probobly isnt)) long wait for our baggage. It was the middle of the night and we waited a half hour for our baggage. However, in hindsight, I can say it was worth it. For while waiting, a man came strolling up to wait for his own bags.

Really, I could never guess where this guy had come from or was going. He was a tall black guy. Thats not why he stuck out so amazingly though. His hair was a bunch of really short (probably the start of longer) dreadlocks, though over them he wore a beanie. He had on a long purple velvet trench coat-Esq jacket. Around his neck he had a long scarf that ended on either side of his body. There were several large (probably uncomfortable) rings on his fingers. Clutched in his hands was a rather unique cane, tipped with perhaps a tiger tooth, and bottomed with a metal cap that made a tapping when it hit the ground. His shoes appeared to moccasins (the native American ones), and he had a nice set of shades on.

I was aghast at this sight. Immediately I went to my sister.

"HOLY CRAP, LOOK AT THAT GUY! FREAKING AWESOME LOOKING!" (a shouting whisper)

"Ya, I know, hes the one I was trying to point out to you on the plane."

Neither of us took a picture of him (I thought it would be a little rude). Looking back, I wish I had. It would have been easier to draw him then. We got our baggage and left before he did.