Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Brother, What Else You Got?


The other day, Mlle Cheri mentioned a woman at Alter and I-94 on the edge of Detroit, sitting at the end of an exit ramp, asking for help, food, anything. I've seen her, too -- she reminds me of this woman, Allie Mae Burroughs, in Walker Evans' photo shot during The Great Depression, though in far worse shape. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Back in the early 80s, my sister Vickie lived on Alter. A little patchy then, the whole area seems hard up these days. That goes, too, for large swathes of neighborhoods in and around Detroit. I can barely walk two blocks before seeing dozens of foreclosed and abandoned houses. It's rough out there. Be kind, 'cause we can't rewind.


Picture faith, folks -- the audacity of hope. Maybe we can pull out of this one short of another world war.

Today's Rune: Partnership.

3 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

World wars are way too costly these days.

JR's Thumbprints said...

Whenever I think of Alter Road, I think of Ye Olde Tap Room. They've got the biggest selection of imported beers in the Detroit area. Such irony. One side of Alter looks worn out and in need of something, whereas, the other side continues to prosper.

Lana Gramlich said...

I was reading an article today that explained how, economically speaking, the US "ain't seen nuthin' yet." Of course, the news is out to scare you, so I don't know what to believe, but I doubt we've seen the bottom of the current fiscal barrel by any means.