A few months ago, I relocated to a different part of the city I now live in. It is a different type of community from which I came, but a community nonetheless. The folks around here have gotten used to my dog and I on our walks. I know who belongs to what house, they speak, I speak, and it’s so quiet around here the majority of the time it’s almost eerie. There’s a real “suburban/urban” vibe as this real estate agent called it that I was chatting with the other day, who evidently also lives around here.
One of very favorite things to do when I walk my dog is go to the park that is super near here. Walking has always been my preferred form of exercise, and although it’s not that enjoyable anymore, what is enjoyable is looking at all the beautiful houses and interesting things that go on around here. As my dog and I were walking the other day, I saw something unexpected. These folks eyeballed me and gave me a warning look as they saw me hobbling along because there was a shirtless man walking towards me and my dog that was using a mattress cover as a coat. I did what I do in this neighborhood with someone that is not from the area (people around here mask and social distance like it’s their job), and stepped WAY off the side walk and put a mask on. As he walked by me, I did something I felt led to do, and when he looked up at me in a haze i looked him dead in the eye, smiled at him, and nodded and then put my mask back on. As my dog and I walked away he stopped under an awning of a building and watched us walk away. I truly believe that he was fascinated, even in whatever state he was in, that a human being had acknowledged his existence. I hope he never forgets it. ❤️