We're back in San Diego after a short holiday in Kona, Hawaii. The amaryllis I was photographing daily in November has now dropped it's petals. What's left is my picture for today.
POETS AND OTHER LAY-ABOUTSPoets and other lay-abouts have said
about the sea all those lovely terrifying
phrases and shorter exclamations just
before the wave crashes into whatever;
but awe lasts not forever so it’s a better
thing to move away and look back on it
than to stay too close to pounding surf.
Haven’t you ever noticed the strained
expressions on the scrunched faces
of old sailors who remember with love
and hate what the sea has done to them?
Memory is the maddeningly wonderful bit
of ourselves we can’t ignore when it comes
rushing in to remind us who we really are.
3 comments:
I'm sure you wrote "it's petals" to see how many people read your blog. Did you visit the site of the school near Hilo that was washed away by the tsunami about 60years ago?
Bob
rorkeb at yahoo dot com
Good morning, Jerral,
The mentally ill are a legitimate problem among the homeless, compared to those who would just rather not be responsible for their condition. I don’t know what other states are doing, but I remember, many years ago, when California government decided it could or would not spend the money for institutions in which to house the mentally ill. They turned them out on the streets and left local communities to deal with them. As a result, many migrated to more benign climates, like San Diego, where they could survive more easily. With our constant publicity about the homeless, and the push to provide ever more services with no income source to match, it is becoming increasingly burdensome on local tax payers to deal with the situation. It is patently unfair.
It seems to me that, like Welfare programs, the expenses to deal with the homeless problem need to be broad-based geographically, so that all areas bear the financial burden of housing and related services. We support Father Joe, the Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, etc. because there is effort made to help people get jobs and regain some normalcy in their lives. However, there are still far too many who just like the climate, the “free” services (which others pay for) and are an intrusive presence on the San Diego scene. Having the state dump the mentally ill onto the streets makes it difficult to separate the truly needy from the lazy. It seems to me that part of the financial solution would be for the state to support facilities for the homeless, spreading the support among many rather than just among us “few”.
Personally, I wish we still had vagrancy laws to keep indigents out of the city center. Many times, on the way to the Civic Theater, I have passed by vagrants installed in store front openings, some having open sex right there. The problem is currently better – there are fewer indigents lying about, but it is a vexing problem!
When I arrived in San Diego some fifty years ago, I observed it was a “big city with a small-town feeling”. The streets and freeways were clean – very little litter – and well-maintained. People took pride in their city, and I wanted to live here and add to that good attitude. Now, we have too many who have migrated here, who have too little identification with the city and who litter, vandalize, and prey on our community. Paradise lost. I constantly look for ways we can improve our San Diego quality of life and join the effort. It often seems like an uphill battle.
I love San Diego. Ann and I feel blessed to live here, and we try to contribute to our community’s quality of life. However, it takes constant, sometimes frustrating, effort.
Have a good day!
Ron
Ron,
Of course, I share your frustration regarding the homeless population in San Diego. Most of the homeless in our area of the city seem benign, more trouble to themselves than to others. The San Diego River Bottom is a jungle that hides many people. I wandered into the area between Linda Vista Road and Sea World one day not long ago and was shocked at the number of people who were camping there.
The homeless, however they got to their state of homelessness, are a mirror held up for me to see how very fortunate I am. I had parents who gave me a sense of pride in work and a sense of responsibility for myself. I have been blessed with uncommon good health. I have been able to put aside more than enough personal resources to take care of my financial needs in old age. Declining health is inevitable if I live long enough: I have good health insurance.
I don't know any of these homeless people, so I have no idea how they got to the homelessness that makes them alien in our city. I too see the tent city and the sleeping bag crowds downtown when I go there at night. I am filled with a great sadness for these wretched people, and with the Psalmist, I can say, "My cup runneth over."
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate your frustration.
Jerral
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