Ghost town
It is a strange night. On the way home from work I encountered one living soul. It was the Night Owl bus driver who waited under the 14th Street overpass. He was probably on his break or just skirting the schedule. The complete absence of people on the street gave the area a very erie feeling. I once got stranded way out in Aventura after Midnight and decided to walk to Mornside where I once lived. This was the same feeling. Not a soul except for a few passing cars. That was when the traffic wasn’t so heavy.
I first noticed the absence of people when I was admiring those big white garbage cans filled to the brim with trash. They belonged the residents of the apartment complex across the street from the Performing Arts Center. They survived the development and those cans were their flags of victory. To me those cans said we are still here despite all that money and privilege and influence. The Manhattan Cafe also survived and is a testiment to the payoff for those who risk a good hunch.
By the time I had reached the Overtowners Market right in the golden triangle before the 14th street overpass I still had not seen any people. Maybe it’s the weather, it is cooler than usual. Maybe it’s the beginning of the sweep. Miami’s influencial most likely got an big eyeful of humanity during the opening of the Carnival Center this weekend and decided that they did not like the ambience. Let’s face it. Who can stand against that tidal wave of money?
Yesterday we visited the Target store at the “train yards” on 36th Street. Everyone is talking about never having to go to North Miami or Aventura again. With the Miami Mini Buses and the Miami-Dade Transit buses running right past the entire complex life got a whole lot easier for most residents. I do not know the names of the other stores that will locate to the train yards but I did see a sign for Circuit City. Publix or Winn Dixie would be idiots if they did not buy into that place.
Thanksgiving is coming soon. I did not have it on my mind but my neighbor gave me a letter from the Miami Rescue Mission. Inside there was a package of dry soup. It said “INSIDE: A cup of comfort for a hurting soul”. Thanksgiving Soup enclosed. I was so inspired by the letter written by Dr. Frank Jacobs that I thought I should mention it in the blog. The Miami Rescue Mission consistently does the work that some of our tax dollars should do – help change the lives of hungry people in Miami. By taking this step they are doing the heavy lifting in rebuilding this city. I am not writing about people in Somalia or Ethiopia or North Korea. What I am referring to is people right outside our doors digging through our dumpsters for our rotten leftovers. (I just wrote that because I am watching a man waist deep in our apartment dumpster looking for a meal.)
To donate food, equipment or household goods call the Miami Mission at 305-571-2273 305-571-2273.
To volunteer your valuable time call 305-571-2227 305-571-2227.
To give a gift online, go to http://www.miamirescuemission.com
Do you have a car or boat or RV that you would like to donate? Take the tax break, eliminate those storage fees and insurance payments. Call Greg Jacobs at Charity Motors at 305-576-3725 305-576-3725. They will tow your vehicle or vessel or you can arrange to sell it from your location. Your donation will help fund training programs and daily feeding programs in the community.
*5/704/13*
