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shadowkatApparently I'm walking less than I did in 2020, and in 2020, I walked less than in 2019 (which makes sense - I was commuting daily in 2019). This year, I'm walking less around Greenwood Cemetery.
Walked to the Flatbush Coop today, picked up some more food. On the way, a heard a faint voice behind me on the sidewalk. I was kind of plotting a story out in my head - or flirting with going back to finishing one (the science fiction story that I wrote pre-pandemic, which predicted Trump in office and a mutant zombie virus decimating the population. That was put on hold for ahem, obvious reasons.) Anyhow I was about to cross the street when I heard this faint little voice..
"Excuse me...I..I..."
Normally, I would ignore it. But for some reason I turned. I wasn't wearing a mask, few do now outdoors - since it's been pretty much proven by the CDC that you can't really get the virus outside in the sunshine. Plus not many people around.
A small thin younger woman was in front of me, her face filled with a kind of hopeless dread or panic. "Would you have a dollar I can borrow? Please?"
Her voice was filled with panic. She was rail thin, slight. And looked no older than maybe thirty if that. With a big purse, and a desperate look in her eyes. She started searching through her bag, panic stricken. ""Oh god, I can't even find my phone. I don't know what I'm going to do."
I didn't think. I just nodded and dug into my purse for my wallet, checking through the dollar bills.
"Thank you, oh thank you so much. I really hate to ask...I just don't know what to do..."
I was looking for something more than a dollar, and landed on a twenty dollar bill. I pulled it out and handed it to her.
"Thank you so much - " She looked down at the bill and I saw her jaw drop open in shock. Her front two teeth were missing. And my heart melted for her. "Oh, oh my god. Wait, are you okay?"
ME (confused) : Yes, I'm fine. Thank you. Not a problem.
Woman: Are you - I'm Kristin..thank you..I ...oh god, thank you.
I nodded and walked on. Not quite sure why I felt compelled to do it. I didn't think about it. I just did it. Without thought. Instinct really. I wondered about it afterwards though. I don't usually - mainly because in NYC you get used to the beggars after a bit, and there are a lot of scam artists. Also its dangerous to pull out a wallet and give someone cash on a sidewalk - even if you aren't in the middle of a pandemic, in a high risk area of the city. But for some reason, I did it - the spirit moved me, so to speak. When stuff like that happens to me - I believe in a power greater than myself, but it is hard to explain to others. Some things are just inexplicable.
***
Meanwhile over on FB. FB removed a comment I put on a Fanboard, and sent me a warning that I had violated their "community standards" and if I did it again, I'd get my account restricted.
What did I do?
I posted that I wanted Valentine to kill Peter on General Hospital.
Basically I wanted one ambiguous and somewhat murderous fictional character to kill another murderous fictional character on a television show, and I posted this in a television fandom.
Facebook? You are embarrassing yourself.
I decided to let them know that they are embarrassing themselves. The moderator got a notification for informing someone that a character had gotten a cockroach. Facebook interpreted it as if she was calling the character a cockroach, and sent her a warning.
***
Been corresponding with folks who I went to London with back in the 1980s. One is putting together a photo book. It's weirdly nostalgic. Makes me want to visit England again, although this round - I think I'd spend more time investigating Scotland and northern England. The last round, I spent most of my time in Southern England and Wales. Also I'd like to spend some time in Ireland. I'm mostly Irish and Scottish apparently.
I don't want to talk about COVID or think about the news. So leaving you with more flowers...
At some point, I may print off these photos and frame them.
Walked to the Flatbush Coop today, picked up some more food. On the way, a heard a faint voice behind me on the sidewalk. I was kind of plotting a story out in my head - or flirting with going back to finishing one (the science fiction story that I wrote pre-pandemic, which predicted Trump in office and a mutant zombie virus decimating the population. That was put on hold for ahem, obvious reasons.) Anyhow I was about to cross the street when I heard this faint little voice..
"Excuse me...I..I..."
Normally, I would ignore it. But for some reason I turned. I wasn't wearing a mask, few do now outdoors - since it's been pretty much proven by the CDC that you can't really get the virus outside in the sunshine. Plus not many people around.
A small thin younger woman was in front of me, her face filled with a kind of hopeless dread or panic. "Would you have a dollar I can borrow? Please?"
Her voice was filled with panic. She was rail thin, slight. And looked no older than maybe thirty if that. With a big purse, and a desperate look in her eyes. She started searching through her bag, panic stricken. ""Oh god, I can't even find my phone. I don't know what I'm going to do."
I didn't think. I just nodded and dug into my purse for my wallet, checking through the dollar bills.
"Thank you, oh thank you so much. I really hate to ask...I just don't know what to do..."
I was looking for something more than a dollar, and landed on a twenty dollar bill. I pulled it out and handed it to her.
"Thank you so much - " She looked down at the bill and I saw her jaw drop open in shock. Her front two teeth were missing. And my heart melted for her. "Oh, oh my god. Wait, are you okay?"
ME (confused) : Yes, I'm fine. Thank you. Not a problem.
Woman: Are you - I'm Kristin..thank you..I ...oh god, thank you.
I nodded and walked on. Not quite sure why I felt compelled to do it. I didn't think about it. I just did it. Without thought. Instinct really. I wondered about it afterwards though. I don't usually - mainly because in NYC you get used to the beggars after a bit, and there are a lot of scam artists. Also its dangerous to pull out a wallet and give someone cash on a sidewalk - even if you aren't in the middle of a pandemic, in a high risk area of the city. But for some reason, I did it - the spirit moved me, so to speak. When stuff like that happens to me - I believe in a power greater than myself, but it is hard to explain to others. Some things are just inexplicable.
***
Meanwhile over on FB. FB removed a comment I put on a Fanboard, and sent me a warning that I had violated their "community standards" and if I did it again, I'd get my account restricted.
What did I do?
I posted that I wanted Valentine to kill Peter on General Hospital.
Basically I wanted one ambiguous and somewhat murderous fictional character to kill another murderous fictional character on a television show, and I posted this in a television fandom.
Facebook? You are embarrassing yourself.
I decided to let them know that they are embarrassing themselves. The moderator got a notification for informing someone that a character had gotten a cockroach. Facebook interpreted it as if she was calling the character a cockroach, and sent her a warning.
***
Been corresponding with folks who I went to London with back in the 1980s. One is putting together a photo book. It's weirdly nostalgic. Makes me want to visit England again, although this round - I think I'd spend more time investigating Scotland and northern England. The last round, I spent most of my time in Southern England and Wales. Also I'd like to spend some time in Ireland. I'm mostly Irish and Scottish apparently.
I don't want to talk about COVID or think about the news. So leaving you with more flowers...
At some point, I may print off these photos and frame them.
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Date: 2021-07-31 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2021-08-01 03:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-08-02 09:53 pm (UTC)Facebook place restrictions on the stupidest things. I once got restricted for liking too many birthday greetings.
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Date: 2021-08-03 01:19 am (UTC)I've been wondering about social media lately. One woman told me that they didn't let her edit or delete a comment, and reported her for trying to do so.
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Date: 2021-08-01 06:00 pm (UTC)