A while back I wrote about the worst date I’ve ever had, (I’m not even going to link to it, because that’s how much I don’t want to remember it). But I never posted anything about my favorite date, and I feel I need to honor that now.
It wasn’t really a date, or it wasn’t supposed to be. I just went to hang out with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. It was one of those friends who you could always count on. Someone who you could always call, for any reason, at any time. Soon, I realized he was more than just a friend.
At some point he had picked up that I loved roasting marshmallows, but was disappointed in the weather because it was just too freakin’ cold to stand outside, (even around a fire). So he had set up an indoor marshmallow roasting. It was more complicated than I would have ever imagined, but he wanted it to be like an authentic roast.
Aside from eating marshmallows, we talked, and talked, and talked. Oh, there were video games, and star gazing, (gay, I know), too. Before I realized it, it was 5am, and I had to sneak back home.
That ‘date’ was the last time I really saw him, it was years ago. Upon moving to Chicago, he called a bit more than usual, and since I was always on a bus or train, I hardly ever got to talk to him. At least texting was an option, we always had time for that, but it just wasn’t the same.
He kept telling me he loved me. I never really told him back. ‘What is the point?’ I thought.
I flew home for Thanksgiving last year, and thought about going to visit him. I didn’t. I didn’t even call him. Probably because I was ‘so busy.’
He died two days after I flew into town.
This time of year always reminds me of him. To you, John, thank you for some of my favorite memories of all time. I miss you, horribly.
Monorail Cat florencio:kkkyndollwood:hidekiryuga:charmyourwayout-:sayeverything:wellimgabrielle:laurandlime:setthestage:allhopedeleted:(via exclusivee)
I found the urge to reblog this immediately irresistible.
What he said.^
Well, I finally moved, and glad as hell that I did. Here are some reports from my old apartment:
Saturday, October 24th:
(Today I had planned to go to my old apartment to pick up any mail. I would have left around 5:00pm. I’m glad I didn’t.)
“We’re getting reports of ‘shots fired’ on the 4700 block of North Sheridan Road, close to the intersection of Lakeside and Sheridan. Fortunately, no one was hit and there are no reports of damage. The police have recovered shell casings along the sidewalk.
One reader reported being outside cutting grass and still was able to hear 3-4 gunshots around 5:20 PM. Witnesses reported large groups of youths were involved in the altercation.”
Wednesday, October 21st:
“I wanted to let you know that one of our neighbors experienced a robbery this morning around 10am on the 4700 block of N. Kenmore. The perpetrator accessed the front gate and front door with a crowbar. He also popped his unit’s front door with the crowbar…”
Saturday, October 17th:
“First, another gang street fight took place early Friday evening… For some reason, the gangs (in this case, the Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords) believe they have the riot to commit mayhem over “turf,” even though they don’t own an inch of it and their names appear nowhere except in their scrawled tags on other people’s property.”
“I was crossing Lawrence on Sheridan and was caught literally in the middle of a gang fight at around 5:20. I called 911, several others were too. I hid in an alcove on Lawrence. Crazy, crazy times.
Then it escalated:
“Dude was beaten unconscious on Sheridan about 25 ft west of Lawrence around 6pm, tonight. It was still light out. Guys running everywhere. I split when a cop pulled his gun.”
And then it escalated some more, into gun violence:
Just hours after our positive loitering event tonight, several rounds were fired near Lawrence and Sheridan, the very corner where we stood. A gun was recovered and arrests were reportedly made. Gang violence is flaring up again in our neighborhood. Be safe. I also took the attached photos of the scene. The most disturbing photo is the bullet dent above the Lawrence House window. Any one of us could have been in the path of that bullet.
I was walking home from a friend’s house tonight. I was at Sheridan/Lawrence at 1040pm and all of a sudden I heard a round of gunshots. All of a sudden cops everywhere and I finally got to Kenmore and they were running down Kenmore with their guns cocked. Anybody know what happened? I live in on Winthrop and Lawrence…. Lately there are gangbangers hanging out on my street. This has just started happening in the last month.”
And I didn’t even bother mentioning the aggressive prostitute/drug dealer, gay bashing uptown cop, or Alderman Shiller’s fish farm/excuse to squeeze every penny out of you. I hand it to the residents of Uptown that are trying to fix the neighborhood. More power to ya!
Video: http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=61948@wbbm.dayport.com
(I’m really tired, and upon rereading this blog, I find that it doesn’t truly express my frustration and sadness on the subject. To find out more, visit www.uptownupdate.com, my source for most of the going-ons in Uptown).
Moving to Chicago, I knew I was on a budget. Luckily, I found this cute little studio convertible, brand new, renovated, all that jazz… for a great price in Uptown. I also knew that the town had a slightly shady reputation. But with the shiny, colorful neighboring mosaic walls, youth centers, cafes, and hidden upscale properties; I went for it.
For a while all was well, (but it was cold out, so no one was outside making a ruckus). I ignored the garbage truck that threw around dumpsters outside my window at 8am… 3 times a week. I walked fast at night when I was getting home from work and felt anxious. Hell, I even tried to forget the morning that my entire apartment was filled with a thousand shades of burning poop smell for HOURS while the building next door was being pumped.
But I’ve had enough.
About a week (or so) ago, there was video footage that found it’s way across the ‘net, and the nightly news, of the ‘Uptown Riots.’ Granted, it’s not really a ‘riot,’ but it sure as hell isn’t something I want going on right outside my front door.
Seriously… this shit is going on right outside my front door.
I watched the footage numerous times, and tried to voice my opinion. While many people felt the same as I, many others basically had the, ‘White bitch, move if you don’t like it.’ Except… the grammar and punctuation wasn’t as nice.
So I started digging into the happenings of Uptown. I learned what an Alderman was, and I learned how ours wasn’t doing shit for us. She’s been AWOL, popped up, refused to talk to anyone, and then disappeared again. I discovered what that strange mailing was, and how it related to the Wilson Yard Redevelopment… I also discovered that I was not an idiot for not understanding it’s pages of non-sense and rambling. I’ve heard rumors of low income housing coming in, and fish-farm plans coming out of the woodworks.
Seriously… our Alderman wants a fishfarm.
Wtf?
I’m ashamed to admit that I’m doing the worst thing that I can: I’m giving in… I’m moving.
I’m moving because there were gunshots right outside my window the other night. (Confirmed by the news. At least I now know the difference between the rings of a gunshot and the pop of a firecracker).
I’m moving because I can’t walk home at night without the threat of getting shot or getting hit by a bat/car/glass bottle.
I’m moving because I couldn’t leave my front door because of the CAPS meeting. (Which is a good thing, but I don’t think it resolved anything. Where was our Alderman?)
I’m moving because there’s no hope. This neighborhood has reached out to the one who can help, and the one has disappeared… yet again. If I have a problem, I know I’ll be stuck with it. I don’t want to be an unsolved case, lying in the street, bleeding to death for no good reason.
Yes, I know it sounds dramatic and unnecessary. That’s what I used to think. But people, we LIVE here, and it’s already happening.
If I can find a way to help fight, I will. But until then, I’m just trying to survive.
