City Life, Part Sixteen: Public Sex
Spring Show. Every year. At every L stop in the city. Male pigeon ruffles and prances and chases females. They avoid him, until one gives in.
City Life
City Life, Part Fifteen: Pakistani Convenience Store
Lottery Tickets: Pockets Of Poor People Purchasing Paper Promises, at the Pakistani Convenience Store under the Argyle Red Line.
City Life, Part Fourteen: Boy Bike Meets Girl Bike
A year on Lonely Bike Street. So close, and yet so frozen in place a few feet from each other. Abandoned bicycles tell a story.
City Life, Part Thirteen: The Invisible Segregationist
Southbound Red Line. After Roosevelt, not so many white people. After Sox-35th, even less. Especially after baseball season.
City Life, Part Twelve: Bird Action
Everyone’s a critic. And every male bird is waiting to be discovered by just the right female who appreciates his song.
City Life, Part Eleven: Forgive Yourself
True story. Feeling horrible about myself. Pulled into parking lot with a client’s car. Writing on the dumpster: FORGIVE YOURSELF.
City Life, Part Ten: Ruined With a View
I once asked a CTA worker (a black man) why so many homeless people troll the trains. He said a lot of them choose to be homeless. Really?
City Life, Part Nine: Pilgrimage To Oprah
I witnessed hundreds of women, young and old — mostly white suburban types — from near and far, beatified by the holy Oprah shrine.
City Life, Part Eight: Bickering Homeless Companions
Bickering homeless companions remind me of Joe Buck and Ratso Rizzo. An odd way to warm my soul during a cold valet shift.
City Life, Part Seven: Everybody Outta My Way!
Crazy People: Is it me, or is it you? I’m never quite sure. And if you ARE sure, then you’re probably crazy.
City Life, Part Six: Invisible Segregation
I could swear there are invisible segregation monitors throughout Chicago. Come on, people . . . try the road LESS travelled, for a change!
City Life, Part Five: Flying Rubbish
For a moment, a late-night duel between a demented rubbish flinger and a dutiful parking valet seemed like a matter of life and death.