Welcome to the Neighborhood
Every time someone comes to visit for the first time they all say the same thing, "It is really quiet here in this neighborhood." I just look at them and think that they really don't have a clue. Looks can be deceiving and in this neighborhood that is the case. Sure when you pull up and turn the corner you see houses that are in pretty good condition they aren't run down or anything and some have flowers and trees in the front yards and you may or may not see kids outside depending on what time you come. But, it all looks good if you didn't know any better. You would say that it was a good place to live. In reality it not as good as they think. They pull up in the driveway or half driveway as I call it because you can't really park a whole car in on the driveway without the tail end of the car blocking the sidewalk. So, people pull up and think no noise quiet.
Well, today started off like the perception that they have of quiet. That is before the kids come out and make it noisy. When they are out you can't hear your own self think as my grandmother would say and I am thinking I miss those double pane windows that I used to have at my grandmother's house and the thicker glass windows which kept some of the noise outside where it belonged. But, you hear every little thing. Now that can be good at times and bad at other times depending on whose is saying what and when. So, earlier today I took a walk to the corner store as I sometimes do when I want something that I don't have at home such as lemon cookie ice cream and a can of coke and some animal crackers for my kid. I even took a couple of pictures on the way back, just some flowers that I thought were cool and posted them to one of my groups. So, today was starting just like any other day. The noisy people were out talking to the top of their lungs like the person they are talking to is ten blocks away and I heard all their business about who was doing what to who and how wrong or right it was. And whose boss was a jackass and who was getting fired and who was getting hired, whose kids were at camp, whose kids were changing schools and who did who wrong again. It is like a mini soap opera everyday.
So, just as I was about to call my son to come inside for the day I heard something that was not normal and scared the hell out of me. I heard pop, pop, pop and I knew that it was not firecrackers or fireworks. It sounded like it was coming from around the corner. I knew my son was out there with his friends and they weren't in front of the house as usual. I called him as I ran towards the door to see if I could see him and he answered on the first ring and said that he was okay and in fact he was near the shooting. He said that him and his friends were going to the store like they usually do before they come in for the day and this one car started shooting at this other car. Everyone started running here. By the time I called they were almost here at the door. I saw another man who lives across the street running too. I asked my son did anyone get hurt and he said he didn't think so. The people in the store were not hurt and him and his friends were all fine. This happened in broad daylight. Kids outside and people walking to the store to get last minute things for dinner and coming home from work. Anyone could have been shot and injured or worse.
I wish I could say that this never happened before but I would be lying. It happened twice since I have been living in this neighborhood. The first time the cops were chasing someone and they were shooting at the cops. Nobody was hit in that shooting either but it was scary. My nephew had been outside emptying the trash at the exact same time. Luckily he was already at the trash bin far from the shooting. But, needless to say it was scary just the same.
I tell people when they say it is a quiet neighborhood that sometimes it is for a very short period of time from dawn to around 11 am and then it is not so quiet so if you want quiet there is a small window of time that you will get it and after that your ears will bleed from the noise. And every now and then something horrible will happen somewhere in the neighborhood.
I personally have had enough of the bad. Since I have lived here not too much good has happened. My brother died here, the shootings, the fighting with the kids sometimes and the adults too, a couple of raids and a couple of times cops looking for people who did something against the law running through the parking lot. My mom always says she want to move. I tell her so do I. Until then I will try to focus on the beauty that is around us at least for a minute or so during my occasional walks around the neighborhood with lots of caution now.
Well, today started off like the perception that they have of quiet. That is before the kids come out and make it noisy. When they are out you can't hear your own self think as my grandmother would say and I am thinking I miss those double pane windows that I used to have at my grandmother's house and the thicker glass windows which kept some of the noise outside where it belonged. But, you hear every little thing. Now that can be good at times and bad at other times depending on whose is saying what and when. So, earlier today I took a walk to the corner store as I sometimes do when I want something that I don't have at home such as lemon cookie ice cream and a can of coke and some animal crackers for my kid. I even took a couple of pictures on the way back, just some flowers that I thought were cool and posted them to one of my groups. So, today was starting just like any other day. The noisy people were out talking to the top of their lungs like the person they are talking to is ten blocks away and I heard all their business about who was doing what to who and how wrong or right it was. And whose boss was a jackass and who was getting fired and who was getting hired, whose kids were at camp, whose kids were changing schools and who did who wrong again. It is like a mini soap opera everyday.
So, just as I was about to call my son to come inside for the day I heard something that was not normal and scared the hell out of me. I heard pop, pop, pop and I knew that it was not firecrackers or fireworks. It sounded like it was coming from around the corner. I knew my son was out there with his friends and they weren't in front of the house as usual. I called him as I ran towards the door to see if I could see him and he answered on the first ring and said that he was okay and in fact he was near the shooting. He said that him and his friends were going to the store like they usually do before they come in for the day and this one car started shooting at this other car. Everyone started running here. By the time I called they were almost here at the door. I saw another man who lives across the street running too. I asked my son did anyone get hurt and he said he didn't think so. The people in the store were not hurt and him and his friends were all fine. This happened in broad daylight. Kids outside and people walking to the store to get last minute things for dinner and coming home from work. Anyone could have been shot and injured or worse.
I wish I could say that this never happened before but I would be lying. It happened twice since I have been living in this neighborhood. The first time the cops were chasing someone and they were shooting at the cops. Nobody was hit in that shooting either but it was scary. My nephew had been outside emptying the trash at the exact same time. Luckily he was already at the trash bin far from the shooting. But, needless to say it was scary just the same.
I tell people when they say it is a quiet neighborhood that sometimes it is for a very short period of time from dawn to around 11 am and then it is not so quiet so if you want quiet there is a small window of time that you will get it and after that your ears will bleed from the noise. And every now and then something horrible will happen somewhere in the neighborhood.
I personally have had enough of the bad. Since I have lived here not too much good has happened. My brother died here, the shootings, the fighting with the kids sometimes and the adults too, a couple of raids and a couple of times cops looking for people who did something against the law running through the parking lot. My mom always says she want to move. I tell her so do I. Until then I will try to focus on the beauty that is around us at least for a minute or so during my occasional walks around the neighborhood with lots of caution now.
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