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cheshyre grin

cheshyre grin
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January 01
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The One True
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An ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own.
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Quit your snooping, bitch.

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DECEMBER 4, 2009 2:22AM

Streets of Darian (Photo Essay)

Rate: 14 Flag
The streets of Dallas have turned cold in both weather and heart over the past few days. A chilling rain wetted the streets and any who inhabited them. I could not help but think of homeless Darian and what he must be going through. His self-exile from the shelter must be amplified by the inhospitable climate, I thought. And the stinging wind inching him further down death's road.

This is the Kennedy Memorial. By day a place for tourists, at night, a quasi-shelter. But it's a very lonely place, like an abandoned heart.

There are many revamped and remodeled buildings in downtown Dallas. Within just a few city blocks one can see a man in his London Fog coat stepping into his BMW and another keeping dry with an inverted lawn and leaf bag.

For some, this is a time of cheer. But is there anything more sterile than a Christmas tree in a bank?

This is the famous Green Building with its thousands of feet of neon tubes lighting up the nighttime skyline. But peek inside and you see the descendents of Hebrew slaves same as ever. For many years I did work such as this. I'll never blame Darian for opting out.

This is the infamous McDonalds where a homeless man grabbed a policeman's service revolver and shot him while the crowd around chanted, "Shoot him! Shoot him!" as the officer begged for his life. That was in 1988 but a stain like that never goes away. All sorts of people will hit you up for a "buck for a burger" as you enter or leave. My advice: don't make eye contact.

Further down is the bus station, nice and bright for warding off potential followers.

Further out on the outskirts are bail bondsmen and court houses. Something wrong with jail time and Christmas lights mixed together. I find looking at the underbelly of justice to be quite despairing.

Here we reach the industrial slums, warehouses and trailers looking to be useful just one more time. Sometimes I think America is going to turn into nothing but empty warehouses.

A desperate shelter from the weather. I'm dry and unbothered here and for the moment that's all that counts. Life has been reduced to its most basic elements of survival.

A broken bottle at my feet represents so many things that can't be pieced back together. I felt like I was taking a crime scene photo, so stark and unvarnished a deed.





Goodbye yellow brick road

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Comments

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That McDonalds now plays 24 hour classical music both inside and outside in order to ward off "undesirables".
Your photos are amazing! The depth and the colors - like xmas baubles until you really look.
This is a beautiful post. Thanks for showing your very talented eye, and thanks for your eloquent words.
One of my oldest memories is my father chastising me for giving all of my money to a homeless man at McDonalds.

There are places like this in my city. I'd like to show you one day, but since that's pretty doubtful the next time I'm out and about I'll get some photographs to share with you.
The story of daRIAN IS A SAD TALE FOR SURE. Dallas is a scary place even if you have a home. America may end up being a bunch of empty warehouses. Businesses are closing right and left. They even closed the mcdonalds in my neighborhood in KC. panhandlers would hang out there too , asking for a down payment on a cheeseburger. Exellent post.
That's nice of them to play classical music, people should show up and just dance!! :) And yell out, "we're desirables!! We dance for you!!!"

*nodding*
Beautifully composed, and heartfelt. Thank you.
Rated.
Thanks, Susanne!

Thank you for the lovely compliments, aim.

Natalie, I'd love to see those photos! I could have done tons more of downtown but my batteries died.

BlindDog, it's scary all over, for sure.

Tink, I'd love for you to show up and dance to their classical music!

Good to see you, Rose! Thanks for stopping by.
That last pic blew me away.
R
Thanks, JB. I liked that one too.
Classical music and mcdonalds are 2 of my favorite things and im just a bum with a crappy job that im thankful to have right now. Still, it would be nice to travel someday. I wonder if they're hiring anyone right now at the murder stained mcdonalds.
That McD's is actually a pretty successful place but it is a BYOBA (Bring Your Own Body Armor) place.
I'm gonna start playing classical music inside and outside of my house to keep you at bay you cantankerous bastard. :)
Dammit! I should have never let that secret out!
Your photos are an excellent window into how you see the world around you - it is all to easy to pass by any given location, and miss what it's really saying. This captures a view not often seen by the "rest of the world."
Everyone has a unique eye, Owl. I think it'd be great to give everyone a camera and have each person photograph a major downtown area. Each person would tell a different story - fascinating!
BBE, you're going to lose all your gangsta cred!
This is why I choose to live in a town with a population of 400. You show the vivid realty of city life dying and not. Wonderfully done but sad
My dad wanted me to ask if that was you rumbling around in the alley. Now, as surly pointed out, we know the Harry antidote - Classical.

But, seriously - great post. I had forgotten about that shooting at McDonalds. Hey, I was in my Rockwall bubble.

Now do a post with all the pretty and nice things about Dallas!
LL, there's something to be said for small town life, no doubt. I remember the country air as a kid. But now a need a place with plenty of hookers.

Julie, be careful! I do have a soft spot for Mozart (Figaro!). I just didn't want to tell Surly so my undesirable ass could still sneak up on her. And we got Barry to show all the good stuff in Dallas :)
gorgeous Harry, set the mood and temperature perfectly. wonderful photos

(I know I owe you a note, just catching up with stuff...have to get through giving a lecture tomorrow at Old City Park)
and for folks who haven't clicked through to read the Darian post, it is one not to be missed.
Thanks, Barry. I lost quite a few pics due to blurriness. Cold+dark=baaaaad. Still, always good to learn stuff.