One block

There is:

A bucket-drummer who sits on the north side of the Madison Street Bridge. I find myself walking to his beat. On game days, he yells “Go Cubs!”

A blind fellow on the south side of the bridge, closer to the Chicago Merc, camped next to a large sign that reads: “Can-you-feel-Jesus-in-your-heart-today?” It includes a picture of Jesus that is not at all comforting.

A homeless guy (“disabled veteran hungry please help”) sitting on a yellow milk crate on the west side. His skin is wrinkly and gray.

Just beyond him stands a tiny man in a ragged gorilla suit passing out flyers for a local gym. I’ve seen him without the mask taking a break around the corner and he looks exactly like you’d expect. Like a pinched up flower that doesn’t get nearly enough sun.

And this morning: The abortion protesters are back.

Picture this: 5 of them standing on each side of the street approximately 15 feet apart holding 5 ft. tall signs titled “First Trimester Abortion". Under it, a giant photo of a bright red bloody mess with one tiny foot poking out.

The pictures are graphic and appalling, sure, but I would never deny anyone their right to free speech.

The 6-year-old passing out flyers next to one of the signs seemed wrong, though.

And abortion protesters claim we should have respect for human life – what about respect for the dead?
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All of that stuff: within just one city block.

What I like most about working in Chicago is that it gets me out of the same-ness of the suburbs.

There’s an intersection in your town – you know it – the one with the video store and the gas station and the pharmacy and the tanning place and the carryout pizza joint.

You could be in a 1,000 other towns across the U.S.

Makes you feel like there might be a 1,000 other you’s out there, too.

In the city, there is something new-exciting-strange-awful-wonderful at every corner.

It’s bursting with different.

And you’d never once forget where you are. Or who you are.
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I am reading: The Red Tent
I am listening to: Chevelle - An Evening with El Diablo
And I am: Okay