Torn down and memories gone

A few observations; walking in another mans shoes by being uncomfortable in a setting where you are alone with people that know each other but you do not, with big cultural differences, is a new experience for me.like the time I attended a wedding in Windsor Ontario and only Italian was spoken.  This week the men in the barbershop mentioned before were nice to me, but at this point, I am an outsider peering in.  That's ok. I should feel ill at ease. And it's no ones fault.  The culture separates us.

There are three houses were at the end of our street, complete houses that could raise a family, frame structures with shutters and steps to the porch.  Then they are gone and its like they were never there.  the earth beneath is flat and graded being prepared for a parking lot installation so a nearby restaurant business could thrive.  But these dwellings did not seem to be in ill repair. This is a sad march of progress and the use of funds.

The place, St Dennis Catholic Church,  where two of my kids was baptized and Andrew found his faith is now the site of a Kroger store.  The altar and statues and font have been removed to be replaced by deli counters and racks for potato chips.  The Methodist church from our old neighborhood is not the site of condominiums.   One of our kids and many others attended nursery school in the basement of that church.  In some way I feel that places of worship should be sacrosanct, somewhat holy ground, not land for development. I am not opposed to repurposing the structures.  The former St James church in Ferndale is not an assisted living space for people needing extra help.  My 99 year old across the hall neighbor just moved in there.

Had Eli and Marie after school yesterday.  It's much different than when they were little.  Both are moving toward teenager-hood and becoming ornery at times.  I try to not take it personally with success some times.  Eli is growing his hair out for twist curls on the top.  There is a specialist at the shop that designs and sets this style up.  Marie's flowing curls are just beautiful and she manages them well. I know little about African hair with my minimal experience being very substandard braids on Shannon when she was little.  

Fog is lifting in Berkley this morning.  Shannon is watching B and the B like usual and breakfast for the both of us is complete.  Magically, Tuane our handyman repaired our bathroom faucet yesterday, no more drips.  I know, big news.

On the TV front, we are watching and arguing about "American Rust" starring Jeff Daniels.  After each episode we have a serious talk about the plot and the holes therein.  She is not happy with the writing, me,  I am more comfortable with things not sewn up neatly.  We will soldier on watching with more discussions afterward. He and Maura Tierny are both journeymen actors and it shows.

Separately, I have been struggling through "Westworld".  This heavily nuanced plot is finally starting to take direction and make sense to my small mind.  Hopkins, Jeffery Wright and Thandie Newton are excellent.  If you don't mind the mental gymnastics to get it, it's worth the trouble.

Well that's it for now

stay safe