If looks could kill

Karl and I have talked about life in the big city, living in a high crime area. John and I both do a lot of walking or riding in the city. We have gotten to know some of Hamilton’s cast of misfits. There is a couple living close to here, she’s partially blind and he’s a complete moron. One night as they were entertaining us doing laundry together this younger kid says to me “how does he put up with that”. She was way across the laundry room but still replied I heard that. There was this other guy with no legs that sat in a wheelchair smoking cigarettes on Main St. one block east of Sherman, at the Sunoco Station, but I haven’t seen him in a bit. I miss him, we would both give a head-nod as I rode on by or if I was walking I would always start into a slow jog as I passed. He always looked so sad. Sam might know this one old guy with long grey hair and beard, in spandex, racing his bicycle around town. He flew past me a couple of times as I huff and puff my way up the rail trail. I’ve seen him at the waterfront too. A couple of guys beg for change at their regular separate locations near here. An older scruffier guy stakes out the Shopper’s Drug Mart parking lot down on the corner and a younger somewhat crazier kid (might be a tard) stands in front of the Tim Horton’s just further down Main, bumming coffee money. One morning I saw a woman hurrying to get away from him so as I approached reached into my pocket and handed him a loonie and a quarter. He says; It’s a $1.39 for a large coffee. I chuckled and walked into Hortons, he stayed outside looking for his next victim. At that same drive thru this older guy, with large glasses, stands inside the small counter store area drinking coffee. This guy appears normal, maybe a little greasy, but he’s there a lot!! The girl’s working all know him well and they talk, I’ve seen him in the back smoking with them too. There’s this other big guy, with a very large forehead, probably in his fifties, that I see picking up garbage everywhere. Who hasn’t seen the guy riding his bicycle with 400 hubcaps strapped to it? John and I have had discussions describing all of these people at some time or another. I wonder if they would mind if I took pictures?? It might make this blog more interesting. Anyway I kinda went off on a tangent there, getting back to my discussion with Karl… He asked if either John or I have had a confrontation with someone on the street and felt threatened. Luckily we haven’t. Well… Last weekend as I pushed my bike through downtown Hamilton these two very loud (maybe drunk) teens said to me (or about me) hey look he’s got an Iron Horse, he must have money. Now I had never heard of Iron Horse bicycles before I bought this one, but this is the second time that someone has said something to me about my bike brand. The first time it was a pimply faced teen who said; Hey those Iron Horse bikes were real popular about a year ago, man. …or something like that. Good thing I was in the video surveillance area of downtown, that made me feel safe. One other warm day during the summer I was sitting on a bench watching the boats at bay front park when this creepy guy approached me. He stood a little too close making small talk, telling me how his wife had recently returned to (of all places) Cape Breton and he was here looking for work but was feeling lonely. After to many minutes of feeling uncomfortable, I told moe I was going to finish my ride. As I rode away I couldn’t help but feel a little rejected that he didn’t offer me oral. Not to be accused of racial profiling but the last encounter I’ll mention is my most threatening. I had just thrown my clothes into the washer and exited by the back door to go home. The door sticks a bit so you have to give it a good push. The backdoor opens onto an alleyway behind the Laundromat where these two skinny black kids, with their baggie pants and football jerseys were standing behind the door. I banged the door open startling all of us. We all jumped a bit and I gave a little chuckle thinking it was funny but when I looked at the one kid’s face it was filled with hatred. It sent a chill through me. So that’s it, my most threatening encounter so far in the big city. If looks could kill… I might not be here today boring you with this blog. Hey I didn’t name this site …ive got something…

John's in Milton this weekend so I actually got some time on the computer. Enjoy the weekend. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?