This morning we fed Roxy and then took her out for a wee and poo. She then watched us quietly leave the house without her and I'm sure she was quite confused with this odd turn of events. For one of the first times since the stay at home order started we decided that we would do our own shopping. Not that we don't appreciate our neighbors doing weekly grocery shopping for us, but it felt so good to get into the car and take off on our own. It wasn't much, but it was good to get out.
The problem with getting out is that we are quickly reminded of how ugly our once beautiful city has become. Homeless encampments everywhere and these are the homeless that choose to stay that way. They are offered help but turn it down, preferring to live in a tent city where drugs and thievery are a way of life. Our neighborhood chat group called "Next-Door" is a constant stream of reports about cars being broken into, bicycles stolen, large items stolen from backyards and front porches. They are frequently quite bold about it, going as far as waving at the homeowners surveillance cameras. Just the other night, a homeowner went down to the encampment three blocks from our home and retrieved his bicycle that had been stolen the previous night. I imagine more people are going to start doing the same as we get little if any help from city police.
Our once beautiful city center is a disgusting boarded up ghetto, the Justice Center completely fenced off with eight foot steel fencing and police guarding it's perimeter 24/7. Nine days of protests for the sensless death/murder of George Floyd have been peaceful but then are followed by a riot that involves rioters setting fire to businesses, vehicles and more. It is all well covered by the media showing white rioters smashing through store fronts and looting, with very little control from the police. We watched the Apple store being hammered on until the large glass building front crumbled and dozens of looters entered and then came running out with arm loads of computers and cell phones. It was horrible to watch. How is this sort of behavior helping the cause? George Floyds brother gave a live talk the next day asking that the riots and looting stop, that this sort of thing will not bring his brother back.
We have lost all faith in our city's governing body like we have lost all faith in the sorry and embarrassing sloth of a President. Every day it is more and more evident that the world we knew has disappeared.
While we toiled away making sure that the gardens were made tidy for all those guests that will not be coming this year, Roxy slept the afternoon away in a nice shady spot were she could keep an eye on us both. Being in our garden takes us away from what is going on all around us. Perhaps when the the pandemic is gone, the riots have stopped and we come out from our hidden gardens, life outside will have improved. My head is full of doubt but my heart is full of hope.
