A DAY IN THE LIFE

VOLUNTEERING AT THE FOOD BANK. THE TRIP IS INTERESTING. OUT THE GATE GATE IS MY ESCAPE FROM RIGHT-WING REPUBLICAN CITY. MY FIRST PROBLEM IS GETTING PAST THE DONUT SHOP, ABOUT 7 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. MY CAR JUST KIND OF TENDS TO VEER OFF INTO THE PARKING LOT. ON TO GULPHA GORGE. THIS IS ABOUT A MILE AND ONE-HALF STRETCH OF SUICIDAL ROAD. IF YOU MAKE IT, YOU COME OUT ON GRAND AVENUE. A RECENTLY REMODELED SERVICE STATION IS ON THE LEFT. THEY SERVE FRIED FOOD TWENTY WAYS. A LINE OF PUMPS HAS NO WAY TO EXIT. YOU HAVE TO BACK UP. PROBABLY A HOME GROWN ARCHITECT. DOWN ABOUT THREE BLOCKS IS A BAPTIST CHURCH ON THE LEFT. THEY HAVE A FANCY ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD. THE MESSAGE READS "WE SUPPORT ISRAEL." THIS SEEMS ODD. I WOULDEN'T THINK BAPTISTS WOULD BE ALL THAT CRAZY ABOUT JEWS. AFTER ALL, THE JEWISH FAITH DOES NOT RECOGNIZE JESUS AS THE MESSIAH. BAPTISTS ARE PRETTY SURE HE WAS. I'M THINKING THEIR SUPPORT OF THE JEWS COMES FROM THEIR DESIRE TO EXTERMINATE MUSLIMS. THIS IS JUST A GUESS. AT THE CORNER OF GRAND AND MALVERN, THERE ARE USUALLY BEGGARS. THEY SAY NOT TO MAKE EYE CONTACT, BUT I ALWAYS DO. HAVEN'T GONE BLIND YET. THE CITY TRIED TO GET RID OF THEM BY PASSING A NO BEGGING ORDINANCE. THE ACLU THREATENED TO SUE ON BEHALF OF ONE OF THE BEGGARS. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FILE A SUIT IF THE SALVATION ARMY WAS NOT ALLOWED IN FRONT OF STORES, OR IF THE BOY SCOUTS QUIT BEGGING AT WALMART. THE CITY RESCINDED THE ORDER. THE BEGGARS ARE BACK, AND I STILL KEEP LOOKING AT THEM. I'LL LET YOU GUESS WHETHER I GIVE THEM ANY MONEY. FINALLY AT THE FOOD BANK. A PLACE SUPPLYING FOOD TO THE HUNGRY. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN HAVE HUNGRY PEOPLE IN THIS LAND OF PLENTY. ANYWAY, SO MUCH FOR MY DAY TRIPPING.