I took an Uber to the Food Truck and Brewery Challenge tonight at the Gateway Center. When I'd had enough I decided to walk from the Gateway to the house I grew up in on 1135W (Glendale St) 255S. It was a 15 min walk, but it took me past the shelter on 2nd W, over the 4th S viaduct, and through my old neighborhood.
It was absolutely beautiful!
I mean on the 4th S viaduct I did walk past a woman who was huddled up against a lamppost support covered in a blanket and lighting something with a lighter. On the same bridge there was human feces. But on the other side, the place I grew up, there was a carnival going on at a Catholic church, with music, kids, food, this is less than 2 blocks from my childhood home. There was also a celebration at someone's house with music, bouncy houses, BBQ, kids. There were people playing in the playground of my elementary school, Franklin Elementary. I honestly had to fight back tears. It was a neighborhood. It was a community. People think it's the ghetto but it's one of the most wonderful places in the valley.
I'm happy I grew up there. I'm happy it is still mostly what I remember (better, actually). I'm happy I took the walk.