Reality Check - It's Tough Staying Loyal to Da 'Hood

When I woke at around 6AM this morning, it was raining.  So much for the morning run!

After breakfast, a nap, an hour or so of study, and a few music downloads, the skies had cleared, so I decided to get my run in, and I tried to kill three or four birds with one stone.  The plan was to get in a two-mile run which would leave me a block from the Jamaican pastry shop on Alabama Avenue in Southeast DC.  From there, I would buy two or three (okay, definitely three) beef patties, cross over to the liquor store and purchase a couple of MegaMillions tickets and a cool drink, and walk the mile home.

The run went smoothly.  Even before I got to the beef patty joint, I could see that it was still closed at - well, I wasn't sure what time it was, but I left my house a couple of minutes after 11AM, and my two-mile run took over half an hour (that's right, what of it?).  That means that when I got to the bakery, it was almost 12 noon, and it was closed.  Problem is, the sign in front says that it opens at 11AM.  I wasn't shocked or angered; I was merely disappointed.  Waiting for those blankety-blanks to get off their asses and open shop was absolutely not an option, so I smoothly segued to my next stop, the liquor store.

On the way to to the liquor store I walked past a bus stop which was the hangout for the local guys.  One of them remarked "are you on dialysis?" and offered his hand as I walked by.  As guarded as I was when I walked by this bus stop, I was completely taken off-guard by his directed commentary.  I said nothing, refused to acknowledge him, and just walked by.  He then said "Hope you feel better" or "hope you get better" -- I don't remember.  I know the guy was just trying to make conversation, and I could have replied in a more amiable fashion, but I've walked down similar streets enough times.  I quickly did the social math in my head and made what I thought was the correct call.

I think that I was offended because I had just finished a run and was in way better physical condition that that gentleman or any one of the four or five other guys at the bus stop, but this guy felt the need to speak on -- or to -- the two small bandages on my left bicep.  Was he just being observant, was he sizing me up, or was he just plain rude?  Answer:  all of the above.

Anyway, no worries at the liquor store; I got my two MegaMillions dollar autopick tickets and left without getting anything to drink.  The latest plan was to get a small drink at Popeye's, my next food choice.  At least Popeye's was open ....  When I got to the counter, I saw a sign that read "no credit card without proper ID".  (I only carried a debit card and four dollar bills on me at the time).  I tried ordering anyway, and was politely showed the aforementioned sign.  I could have started a little debate and pointed out that Popeye's was the only business in the area that had this additional requirement, but my immediate thought was to take my business elsewhere.

I politely thanked the cashier and proceeded across the street to Safeway to get some chicken breast cutlets that I could take home and turn into quesadillas.  This particular store is one of the few Safeways I've been to that does not have those "self-cashier" stations, so I surveyed the regular cashier lines.  There were four or five open, but they all had people ahead of me with at least one overflowing shopping cart.  I went to the shortest line and waited it out a good three or four minutes before deciding on cold cuts, salad and fruit for lunch -- all items that I knew were in plentiful stock at home.

I gotta tell ya -- the next time I see or hear someone saying that minorities should spend their money in their neighborhood establishments, I will remember what happened today and think that perhaps the neighborhood establishments should try a little harder to earn my business.  It's tough to stay loyal to the 'hood when every visit brings fresh reminders of why I was so eager to get out of it in the first place.