The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Last night, coming home from an evening of drinks with friends, I found myself walking in 19°F (-7.2°C) degree weather in the wind. Thanks to New York parking rules, it involved walking under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway where my car is often parked. Moving my car to the other side of the lot, or street, is a part of my daily routine. It is the last thing I can do before settling in at home.
It was not the last thing I did.
There was a homeless man using my car as shelter from the wind and the cold and it would have been impossible to move without disturbing him. He cursed and yelled and screamed when I asked him to move and stomped off down the street and left his bundle of blankets behind. I'd never felt like a more hypocritical asshole for being more concerned over an eighty-five dollar parking ticket than this man's shelter.
I found myself cursing society after parking the car; wondering why, if we're so fucking civilized and advanced, this must go on. By the time I'd gotten home I was on a ranting tirade, when my good friend Nicole reminded me that I could do my part. I was humbled by her simple suggestion. Why hadn't I thought of it? I am a part of "our society." too, right?
I own one less blanket now. The man wasn't even there to receive it, so I left it on his pile of blankets and walked away. It wasn't much of a gesture, but it was something. I wonder what I'll do if I see him again.
The rest of the night I spent coming to terms with this ugly world. On the whole, we cannot take what we want and pretend the ugliness is gone. You take the bad with the good. Otherwise you can seek another town, another city. A suburb. Something comforting and pretty with no edge, no challenge. Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their hand in the sand.
It was not the last thing I did.
There was a homeless man using my car as shelter from the wind and the cold and it would have been impossible to move without disturbing him. He cursed and yelled and screamed when I asked him to move and stomped off down the street and left his bundle of blankets behind. I'd never felt like a more hypocritical asshole for being more concerned over an eighty-five dollar parking ticket than this man's shelter.
I found myself cursing society after parking the car; wondering why, if we're so fucking civilized and advanced, this must go on. By the time I'd gotten home I was on a ranting tirade, when my good friend Nicole reminded me that I could do my part. I was humbled by her simple suggestion. Why hadn't I thought of it? I am a part of "our society." too, right?
I own one less blanket now. The man wasn't even there to receive it, so I left it on his pile of blankets and walked away. It wasn't much of a gesture, but it was something. I wonder what I'll do if I see him again.
The rest of the night I spent coming to terms with this ugly world. On the whole, we cannot take what we want and pretend the ugliness is gone. You take the bad with the good. Otherwise you can seek another town, another city. A suburb. Something comforting and pretty with no edge, no challenge. Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their hand in the sand.