Of Moose and Men

1. My Neighborhood
Yesterday, I walked through my neighborhood. I walked first to the library and then post office with my mother. I then walked to the bus stop on my way to a sleepover. Not having walked that much through my neighborhood in a little less than year, I realized everything that I had taken for granted.
a)Summerness- It seemed like everyone was grilling and the smell of burning was everywhere, part of the concrete and tree bark. There were popsicle sticks on the ground, and incriminating popsicle stains on toddler tshirts. Paleteros and Eloteros jingling and honking, moving, and enticing. There was an old man, standing with a bucket of white paint in front of his staircase, ready to repair the winter damage. He was a stout man, round and sturdy but he held the paintbrush so delicately, seemingly enjoying the feel of the bristles sliding against the wooden steps. It had been raining the day before, but today there was only sunshine and easy.
b) The Spanish Language- Mexican families, sitting on their front porch, complaining, story-telling, lying, cursing, exclaiming, shouting, muttering, whispering, the sounds are comforting, and refreshing. The melodies sound so natural, unrestrained and honest. So much is said with intonation, pitch and volume. These are sounds I had heard so rarely all school year long in Rochester, now coming at me, full force, amplified. It was a melody of questions, gossip, evening conversations.

2. The Bus
The bus was mostly empty when I got on, but started filling up quickly. It would have been a regular bus ride, frankly one where I might have regretted not bringing my iPod, but for the running commentary coming from the woman sitting behind me. She was talking on the phone to someone, but she was quiet for the most part and would only speak when something happened on the bus that she disapproved of. To be honest, I'm not even sure if she was talking to anyone on the phone. She was probably just holding that phone to her ear so as not to seem crazy. She was definitely speaking loud enough so that most of the bus could hear her.
Some Things She Said:
"Shi- get that baby a pacifier or somethin'!"
-after a baby started crying
"What is he doing with a dolly and suitcase? Where he gotta go? Holding the bus up and shit? Why? A dolly and a suitcase!"
-after a man with a dolly and suitcase got on the bus (to be fair, it was weird)
"Shut up! Oh mah gah! This girl's on the bus talking on her cellphone all loud! Shut up with your bird looking ass! Peacock!"
-after another woman got on the phone and started speaking at a volume that still did not surpass this woman

3. Bec's House
After arriving at Bec's house we started off the visit with smoothie making (I had banana duty). We then proceeded to discuss Bec's deteriorating health, and the untrustworthiness of doctors. Once Bobber arrived, we were able to head to the park. At the park, we discovered that Bobber and I, unlike Bec, were perhaps not suited for ultimate frisbee. I discovered that Michael Jordan coming at my head at 30 mph was very scary. We then proceeded to the swingset, where we noticed a two dimensional labyrinth (not be confused with a maze of any number of dimensions) just adjacent to us. Bec bravely walked us through the labyrinth and I lead our journey back out. After that we realized we were alone in the dark, and Bobber kept warning me about curly haired creepers that appear in parks late at night. Of course, I am not so gullible. There are no such thing as curly haired creepers. We headed back to Bec's house and began to film a video on a small island country named Nauru. In Nauru, we met many lonely, friendly indigenous people. They were quite hospitable, and eager to meet us, as this country gets so few visitors. Shout-out to Fred, Fredericka and Winifred! Perhaps the only downside were the pesky dragons and dragon slayers. I sure will miss Nauru.

For more information on Nauru visit:
http://www.discovernauru.com/

PS- If you look through the many Nauruan activities listed on the website, you will notice that "walking" is listed as one of them.