Don't know where we're going, but we're on our way: the answer is blowin in the wind

thursday, april 7, 2011

john's aunt rita is visiting from scotland, staying at his mom's house.

her friend, katherine, came down from san francisco for a few days.

they invited me to go to venice beach with them.

i have never been and they always seem to have a good time when they go places.

so i jumped in the car and off we went.

the weather forecast was for possible rainy weather.

we didn't get rain,

but boy, did we get wind.

i have lived in socal all my life

and i have never seen the wind blow at the beach like it did when we were there.

it wasn't even a warm refreshing breeze.

it was just a plain old cold wind blowing in off the ocean.

we decided to brave the elements and see what venice had to offer.

i had a general idea of what we would find,

but the other 3 did not.

most of the pictures i took tell the story of venice.

but they also tell a story of america today.

i know that what we saw down there was not as much as is usually there.

the weather had forced alot of people indoors.

venice is a haven for homeless and forgotten souls.

i wanted to get more pictures of what we saw,

but i also did not want to offend anyone.

after all, this is their lives

and for a few of them, their homes.

i wouldn't want someone taking pictures of me in my home without permission.

we didn't stay very long because of the wind and cold.

but we were there long enough to see that this is all wrong.

america is supposed to be a good country that takes care of it's own.

but it doesn't.

america is too busy taking care of the rest of the world.

there are too many venices all across this country.

i know that the average american sees what is wrong and wants things to be right.

i know that the average american doesn't like seeing the homeless and forgotten and troubled souls being forced out on to the streets to live like beggars and tramps.

i know that the average american would and does help when they are able.

i know that the problem is not with the average american.

i know that the problem is with the so called "government for the people".

i know that the so called "government for the people" is actually doing only for themselves and their big business friends.

i know that it is going to get very very bad before it ever begins to get better.

i know that i am very unsettled about it all.

i know that most of my fellow americans feel the same way.

i know that i don't know what to do.

i know that i will try to help who i can, when i can.

there is a saying that i think of when i see a person living a tough life.

"there, but by the grace of god, go I"

there are way too of many us one of god's graces away from the streets these days.

we all need to have a bit of compassion and sympathy for our fellows beings on the street.