| | in Inglewood, and Lord it's good to be back.
Southern California is cold and rainy; the air is crystal clear. We went whale-watching today, could see snowcapped mountains in one direction and Catalina in the other. No whales.
Volunteered at St. Margaret's on Monday morning, and it was like I'd never left. My replacement flaked out a few weeks ago, so they've been short-staffed and going mad. I gave sandwiches to old clients, helped with intakes, and taught ESL for an hour. Will go back again on Friday to work all day.
MTA buses are now equipped with fancy LED TV screens that give weather reports and show silly pictures. What a ridiculous waste of money. We don't need televisions on the buses, we need MORE BUSES!
Otherwise, not much has changed. When I first moved to Inglewood, I was disconcerted and a little frightened by the fact that I was usually the only white person around. I was accustomed to being a minority, but not in America. Upon returning, though, I realize how uncomfortable I've been not being a minority, out in Florida. It's good to be the only white kid on the bus. It's good to remember all my Spanish-- within five minutes of stepping into St. Margaret's, I was taking a phone call in Spanish, and it all-- all! all! all!-- came back to me, poof just like that.
The hood may be getting more dangerous again.
I've missed this place.
Don't get me wrong; it's evil. Los Angeles is one of the most vile and miserable places anywhere. But I can do something about it. I am experienced and equipped to face that misery, and to help people ride through it. In Lennox, in Inglewood, I can make a difference. And I did! For a whole dadgum year! There's nothing, friends, nothing as beautiful and as necessary as being needed. And here I am needed.
I enjoy my life at the university. I'm useful to my students. But they don't need me. They are brilliant, successful and resourceful researchers and without me, they would cope just fine. They'd find another English teacher. Or they'd find ways to learn on their own. They'd do just fine, they'd still be brilliant, successful researchers who will be China's great movers & shakers in the years to come.
And I just don't get that many jollies out of helping folks who'd be just fine without me. Not when there's this, when there's such need, when there are so many who have nobody and I can do something about it. That I'm living a life that matters, truly and eternally.
Plus, the fish tacos are really good.
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| | Posted 3/15/2006 2:42 AM - 2 views - 5 comments
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