Monday, July 25, 2005

Monday Morning

It’s early Monday morning.  Not even 7:15 am.  I exit the bus onto the dirty streets of Seattle.  It looks like it’s been a busy weekend and the local homeless drug addicts are up early, looking for their fix.  As I walk towards a crosswalk I see the deal take place.  The couple who have just received their long anticipated fix eagerly wait for the light to change.  The man steps into the street, daring cars to hit him as he waits.  He can’t stand still and is waving his arms about excitedly.  She is a little calmer.  She’s got the drugs in her hand.  She knows what is coming.  The light changes and they hurry into an alley.  I notice, as I walk by, her hand out with the drugs in her palm.  I turn and keep walking, pretending I didn’t see. 
I don’t breathe deeply; I attempt to not breathe at all.  The air smells of day old ketchup and urine.  It’s been hot, no rain has washed away what people have left behind, and the morning clean-up crews won’t arrive for another hour or so.  I try not to notice the trash on the streets.  Most of the litter doesn’t bother me; it’s made up of wrappers, napkins, cups. Every once in awhile, though, I see something I wish I hadn’t.  I try to keep my eyes averted from seeing things I know will bother me the rest of the day.
The stark difference between the inside of my building and the outside isn’t lost on me.  I stand in the elevator lobby and notice that new carpet was installed.  I wonder if they will also replace the carpet in the elevator.  It’s a nice soothing blue, dark with cream accents.  The newness of it, the cleanliness of it, contrasts with the litter on the streets outside the window.
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The weekend was interesting.  Freeman and I are searching for a place to live.  We went looking on Saturday afternoon and found a couple of places we may be interested in.  It was fun to look, envision our furniture in different rooms, us living in a different way.  I realized I’m more excited than I thought to make this move.  I didn’t know I was ready.  I am.
Now I’m at work, trying to figure out all the things I have to get done before I leave Thursday for vacation.  I’m ready for it.  Am I EVER!