Believe In Me
What a night!
Of course, nothing terribly interesting..but i continued the same kinds of observations I did last weekend on the subway.
I am about to sound incredibly snobby, but I live in a really nice part of town, i go to the number one all girls school in the country, people in my neighborhood live in stunning houses (but they probably dont think they are half as nice as I think they are) and most parents can afford to buy their children brand new BMWs for their children.
Tonight however, I took a walk down to the shittier areas of where I live, mainly to buy a few decorations for my hallway at school, but also to see something new.
I walked half an hour down to Bathurst Street and went to a dinky dollar store which smelled like musk and stale cologne. I found all sorts of gadgets and things I wanted to buy, but would probably never use. The woman at the counter was young, and she looked at me in a shifty manner. I continued and saw a short squat man with a long beard, glasses and a turban that sat perfectly on top if his head, it was obvious that the woman at the counter and the man i was looking at were related. It occured to me that these people were working so hard to make a living, it was Friday night at 10:00, what is a dollar store doing open? Why arent they at home spending time together? or having dinner as a family?
It's sad to me that in order to maintain life..survival, it sometimes requires sacrifice of basic emotional necessities such as quality time together
I trotted down the street and saw many homeless, and beggars. I handed out a little bit of change to each and recieved many "may god bless you"'s and "You are so kind". What is so noteable about doleing out a little bit of change to someone who needs it more than you do?
I decided to go into the Goodwill store, and i browsed the shoe section in hopes of finding something unique (no luck) and then, i came across a stack of treasure! I found all sorts of different vinyls and records. Although there was nothing noteworthy, other than Barbara Streisand albums, a few "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and classical records there was an Eagles record, it wasnt Hotel California or anything i've heard of, but I think ill go buy it anyway next time i return. Going through these records, watching families come in looking for Halloween Costumes..a woman browsing bridal dresses, it made me feel more in touch with what Toronto really is, not just my lace and frills community. I caught a cab back home, and I welcomed the warmth of the inside, I looked out the window and counted how many homeless there were. I saw about 6. Each of them with a story to break my heart.
The street grew gradually smoother, the bulidings turned into large houses, warmly lit and back to my school...where I got into a fight with the taxi driver who said I owed him more than I actually did. He was an African man, who i believe was swearing at me in whatever language...
And for some reason i sensed desperation in his eyes, although he was giving me an unfair rate, we negotiated and he left. Probably sending me off with the bird.
Later I tried to sneak in, dressed all pretty to the dance (which i initially didnt want to go to) but Avandi and I decided to give it a shot. Unsuccessfully, we walked back home, and I swirled and twirled and waltzed myself there.
Why?
Because even if it isnt worth it to dress your best to get rejected, its nice to feel beautiful, dancing to anything thats on your mind with a friend beside you and nothing above you but a murky, star studded sky.
Love is the unconditional desire to do good
Love
A
On my next little outing, im going to take pictures of all the awesome graffiti i find. Out where I go running there's really ARTWORK. Under bridges, in hidden little corners of a street, on the backs of stop signs and bus stalls...and no one notices this work unless you look for it yourself.
Of course, nothing terribly interesting..but i continued the same kinds of observations I did last weekend on the subway.
I am about to sound incredibly snobby, but I live in a really nice part of town, i go to the number one all girls school in the country, people in my neighborhood live in stunning houses (but they probably dont think they are half as nice as I think they are) and most parents can afford to buy their children brand new BMWs for their children.
Tonight however, I took a walk down to the shittier areas of where I live, mainly to buy a few decorations for my hallway at school, but also to see something new.
I walked half an hour down to Bathurst Street and went to a dinky dollar store which smelled like musk and stale cologne. I found all sorts of gadgets and things I wanted to buy, but would probably never use. The woman at the counter was young, and she looked at me in a shifty manner. I continued and saw a short squat man with a long beard, glasses and a turban that sat perfectly on top if his head, it was obvious that the woman at the counter and the man i was looking at were related. It occured to me that these people were working so hard to make a living, it was Friday night at 10:00, what is a dollar store doing open? Why arent they at home spending time together? or having dinner as a family?
It's sad to me that in order to maintain life..survival, it sometimes requires sacrifice of basic emotional necessities such as quality time together
I trotted down the street and saw many homeless, and beggars. I handed out a little bit of change to each and recieved many "may god bless you"'s and "You are so kind". What is so noteable about doleing out a little bit of change to someone who needs it more than you do?
I decided to go into the Goodwill store, and i browsed the shoe section in hopes of finding something unique (no luck) and then, i came across a stack of treasure! I found all sorts of different vinyls and records. Although there was nothing noteworthy, other than Barbara Streisand albums, a few "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and classical records there was an Eagles record, it wasnt Hotel California or anything i've heard of, but I think ill go buy it anyway next time i return. Going through these records, watching families come in looking for Halloween Costumes..a woman browsing bridal dresses, it made me feel more in touch with what Toronto really is, not just my lace and frills community. I caught a cab back home, and I welcomed the warmth of the inside, I looked out the window and counted how many homeless there were. I saw about 6. Each of them with a story to break my heart.
The street grew gradually smoother, the bulidings turned into large houses, warmly lit and back to my school...where I got into a fight with the taxi driver who said I owed him more than I actually did. He was an African man, who i believe was swearing at me in whatever language...
And for some reason i sensed desperation in his eyes, although he was giving me an unfair rate, we negotiated and he left. Probably sending me off with the bird.
Later I tried to sneak in, dressed all pretty to the dance (which i initially didnt want to go to) but Avandi and I decided to give it a shot. Unsuccessfully, we walked back home, and I swirled and twirled and waltzed myself there.
Why?
Because even if it isnt worth it to dress your best to get rejected, its nice to feel beautiful, dancing to anything thats on your mind with a friend beside you and nothing above you but a murky, star studded sky.
Love is the unconditional desire to do good
Love
A
On my next little outing, im going to take pictures of all the awesome graffiti i find. Out where I go running there's really ARTWORK. Under bridges, in hidden little corners of a street, on the backs of stop signs and bus stalls...and no one notices this work unless you look for it yourself.