In The Ghetto...

As I sit and contemplate what I will write about today, I think back on what I have done in the last 8 hours or so.  My son is sitting on his bohonkas playing a handheld video game after playing football with the neighborhood boys for about an hour.  I, on the other hand, have just returned from a bike ride upon which I saw many things and people whilst riding to and from a place my friend is considering renting.

As I prepared to ride over to this place in Cloverdale, I looked up on Googlemaps how to get there.  I was unsure of this route I had been given, but figured it couldn't be too bad.  I left the house.

As I followed the instructions given to me by this online navigator I began to reflect on the day.

It had been a good day.  Matthew and I had finished the movie Anchors Away this morning while eating breakfast and had a really good conversation about Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.  He really loves the old stuff.  After that I had taken him for a jog around downtown.  He had really enjoyed that.  We went around downtown a little and then up the tower by the newspaper offices and then across the bridge over the train tracks and down to the river front.  We ran around the river front and looked at the cool tile mosaic up by the splashpad.  Then we had jogged home.  I had fed him lunch and then he had gone to play football with his friends.  Overall it had been a good day.

As I was thinking on these things, I realized that I was going through some neighborhoods that were...  Well, questionable.  Now, I am a pretty friendly person, so rather than assume things about those out on the roads or in front of houses or in groups, I decided to be friendly and say hey as I passed them by.  The first few I was a little nervous about because they looked like the stereotypical "thugs", but everyone likes a smile right?  You know, they waved right back and said how you doin'!  This only encouraged me.  I started waving and saying hey to everyone I passed, like a little kid on a float in a parade I was waving and smiling to all who saw me.  HA!  Some of the looks I got were priceless!  The ghetto area didn't last long, maybe a quarter mile, but it was so much fun that I continued to do this all the way to my destination.

What fun to pass smiles along to folks who may not have many smiles given to them.  I think I shall do that more often and encourage my son to do the same.

Now for my photo and haiku of the day...

A beautiful day

A boy at peace with himself

Winter Enjoyment

Have a great one all!!