AD.

2nd rape victim I’ve come across on W. 14th in three weeks.

5 Responses

  1. wow, please change your route EVERY DAY. times too if you can, and train ave is cool– i have always loved DRIVING down it but it has, through the years, been a popular place to dump bodies.

    I’ve never forgotten the story of the young woman runner who was raped out in the desert in vegas. They did catch the guy (amazingly enough), and he said her routine (she ran same time, same route every day) and the remoteness of where she ran made her an easy target.

    Your idea of a running buddy is a very fine one.

    I think the theft and violence is to be expected in a gentrified neighborhood–especially when the immediate surrounding areas aren’t. I remember, living in Ohio city in the late 70’s, some of the first gentrifiteers (they lived in the “heart” of OC in the big old houses, I was sitting in the cheap seats over on 44th st) were astounded, felt violated and pissed off that someone actually broke into their mercedes. They were 2 blocks from the freakin projects fer chrissake.

    Twenty-some years ago, my crappy cavalier broke down in Cleve hts. I rode with the tow truck driver back to my house in tremont. Although he didn’t live there, he was familiar with the area. He regaled me with tales of his buddies who waited for “the dumbasses from Lakewood” to go into Edison’s so they could rip off their cars or roll them when they emerged drunk. I got too complacent living on E71 & superior, was out in front of my OWN HOUSE at night, was knocked down, nearly raped and took a bullet for my stupidity (as he emptied the gun at me, I was lucky it was only one). I shoulda known better, Jeff shoulda known better. Marty (Melissa’s roommate downtown) shoulda known better the winter night he came home sans leather jacket and wallet but otherwise intact.

    Melissa always carried Cop-Quality mace living downtown and the flats. I was told not to carry the big ass knife I started carrying after getting shot (no jokes about taking a knife to a gun fight), but to carry like a real lemon full of lemon juice, doesn’t blow back in your face…but as quick as that shit happens I cant imagine getting the lid off and aiming for their eyes (hold still, mutherfucker, lemme squirt ya!). I vote for the mace.

    I don’t think a lot has changed, only the economy’s worse and there are more haves in the area (tremont) for the have-nots to pick from. Im talking theft here and i know you and smith and jeff certainly don’t wave your mercedes in the faces of the poor folks but sometimes all you need is a white face, thieves have their own profiling system…or put yourself in a place where you present an opportunity.

    please be safe and continue making art, your work is really, really good.

    joanne
    (smith’s ex-cisternlawn, who is going to give her soapbox a good scrubbing now.)

  2. oops.

    I violate my credo of “Just Shut Up” and make a comment sounding like some fatass, middleaged, ignorant, suv-drivin broad from the suburbs. although i did get rid of the suv some time ago, i don’t care to be thought racist or ignorant so
    let me expand on my profiling comment:
    sometimes all you need is the wrong color skin for the area you’re in…a vagina to be violated, a lovely pair of shoes or a leather coat, an unthreatening presence, an age that’s middle or more, a pair of earphones plugged in your head (you’ll never hear them coming up behind) or any sign of vunerability.

    now, I’ll just shut up.

  3. dear ex-cisternlawn – you don’t sound racist – your summation line “sometimes all you need is the wrong color skin for the area you’re in…a vagina to be violated, a lovely pair of shoes or a leather coat, an unthreatening presence, an age that’s middle or more, a pair of earphones plugged in your head (you’ll never hear them coming up behind) or any sign of vunerability” is both fair and accurate. as chiplis said, if you live in an urban area, you have to keep your eyes and ears open. . . heck, even in the rural areas – there are animals out there on two and four legs. it has always been so – although it seems more so now.

  4. I wish I didn’t have to think so very carefully but I don’t know.

    I wish that this entry was not coming up on the cleveland poetics site. It has energy that seems to be a roadblock to a way through to compassion of all.

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