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Saturday, October 29, 2016

October 29, 2016

There is always that moment I think every real life super hero goes thru called "The Uncle Ben Moment."  If you don't know what that is, remember how in the history of the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man; there was that moment when Spidey failed to stop a robbery, the same robber who killed his beloved Uncle Ben.  I think, & I pray I'm wrong, I went thru that moment.
Halloween patrols are always fun in Boston.  Since many go on parties, mainly "Pub Crawls," it was a good time to experiment on patterns that I would normally not do.  However, this was a few days to "All Hallows Eve," so caution had to paid especially.  I went a little too early, which in RLSH terms is like, well, an odd response if you don't mind people looking at you in a strange get-up.  I was expecting a longer patrol, but to be honest the time spent was quite decent.  I managed to get one route better than I did in the last patrol.  I noticed two men cat-calling some people, so I looked.  They liked my uniform (Take that Octavious Fong!)  They even gave me a new name "B-Money."  They asked for money but I had some granola bars I keep for fuel.  They thanked me & I had friends for life.  I saw people in costumes.  Seeing WWE costumes makes me wonder why that federation ever had a "Do Not Try it At Home" promo.  Maybe the emphasis on WWE is on the E rather than the second W.  I wanted to hit the far end, & I noticed a lady walking with two boys right behind.  As I was going to wait for the walk signal to start, by the way kids, real life superheroes don't jaywalk.  I waited a few seconds after the light turned to walk to makes the guys didn't do any funny business.  As I was walking thru a glitzy section of Boston, here's my "Uncle Ben moment."  I walked I saw two burglars,a man & a woman fumbling thru tools at night.  The bag looked like a tool bag made with a burlap sack.  They were fumbling thru it like in those cartoons I saw when I was a child of the bumbling burglars.  I watched, they were committing a crime on site, a lot of tools were out that made it look out-of-place, even the clothes they wore were out of place.  Yet, I felt like I couldn't do anything, like I didn't deserve to be there and help.  Let me remind you that in order to do a citizen's arrest, one must be witness to a crime that is a felony.  And from what they were doing it was a Breaking & Entering, whether it was a car or a building, in which mostly it is a felony with a rare misdemeanor now & then.  That lack of insecurity helped two crooks get away, & leave a family, who would & should feel safe in that area, feel violated.  By any means that is unacceptable.  I would rather go thru "The Injury," getting in trouble, even getting mauled, than to pull the stunt, or lack thereof I did.
Before I go on beating myself with my own cane, more on.  I was walking thru the park.  I felt nervous on time, but looked & I was just getting started.  I remembered one patrol which I wanted to get to a certain spot, I stop for fear I'd be in trouble.  Recalculating my walk route, I found a better way to get there.  I noticed a homeless lady begging for food.  I also gave her another granola bar.  She showed her friends, & I had another friend for life.
I walked the watered area, but noticed with the bridge there, it would be hard not to arouse suspicion, so I left it at that.  It was a long route, but my "Uncle Ben Moment" will haunt me now just as much as seeing Supermom in a coma after I had fifteen staples placed in my head from a mugging as she saw me afterwards.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

August 2, 2016

I concentrated on a section of Boston I knew well of but wanted to cover new territory.  As I passed a darker section, I noticed an odd man who was behind a young woman.  I looked to check to make sure there's no problem.  As it turned out he put his cigarette on the ground to snuff it out, keeping the path farther.  All's well.  I mismanaged one of the streets to go to, a mistake that would soon be a pattern.  The street that I was going to go up, fortunately or unfortunately depending on how to look, was occupied with construction.  I soon cut thru the middle in a park, where I heard Shakespeare, hopefully not a tragedy.  As I crossed a section, I noticed a young man having an evil eye, & holding his cell phone.  Talking was out of the question, since he would feel it would a threat or an attack.  Ignoring was the only option, & remembering a statement I always give to my fellow real life superheroes, "Act & feel as if you have a bull's eye all over your body with everyone as the hunter but never feel inclined to have an itchy finger to make things worse,"  Words now that I was living by.  I really wanted to go to a certain section to avoid problems, but I kept running into dead ends.  And asking for directions, imagine a guy dressed funny asking a total stranger how to get some place.  Awkward!   As I reached one part, I noticed very dim lights along the path.  Near future, I'm getting head lamps.   As well, I saw a drunk black man, rambling using the "n-word" in the end of all his phrases.  As much as I wanted to calm him down, I felt he was on a hair trigger, to do anything that would make things worse.  So I kept one eye open until we were far apart.  I kept walking farther from my destination.  But I soon got a sign that reminded me of a story a while ago with a friend talking about the origins of the word, "Hell."  As it described not a pit of fire with the devil & eternal damnation, but a valley where people dumped garbage, waste, & unwanted people in there, forgive me it was a while since I heard the story.  But what I firmly remember saying is that, "Hell is a state of mind."  The same can be said of fear.  As I crossed an alley with two groups of people hanging out.  Trouble or no, reporting it would be hard since at the time, until I realized, I didn't know where I was.  I found the nearest train station & my patrol ended.  "As I crossed the valley of death, I shall fear no evil."

Thursday, July 28, 2016

July 28, 2016

Today was my baptism of fire.  I went, to me, into one of the toughest sections in Boston.  As I walked, I saw a Cape Verdean couple arguing I think with a driver.  Nothing to notice.  There were couples there, which made me feel good.  A buddy system is very necessary.  I heard a conversation between a group.  Since there was no immediate need for me, I moved on.  What shocked me was that there were three children, not even tweens, running at night to their home.  I was saddened.  As well, I noticed a police car turn on their lights, BUT NOT SIRENS, when passing a red light, & shut it off again  I felt sad when we have those that serve 24/7 about their public service abuse their gift & makes their impressions worse plus those who do things by the book & with heart.  As I noticed people in the playground, it feel like a blue collar Los Vegas.  I passed two people sleeping on the bench.  I checked on them, & I think they were in a middle of a dream.  I also a man sitting on a shopping cart very hungry.  I gave him my last granola bar and we talked about the weather.  How lucky we felt we didn't have to deal with hurricanes, alligators, or sharks.  We laughed & fist bumped our good byes.  Another person gave me a cheer.  My only complaint is that it didn't last long.  I think next time, I'll measure walking time on Google Maps before I go on patrol for longer times.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

June 20, 2016

On the first day of summer, I had an unexpected late patrol.  As I was on the train, I noticed a black man with what seems to be a "Corona" Malt Liquor (I may not get it correct.) As he was asking for money from another passenger & slurring a lot of his words (in other words he was drunk.)  I kept an eye on him until I got to my stop as I appeared in a soundful meditative pose.  As I approached I knew my path.  As I approached new territory, there was a sense of fear going thru my veins, but I made it turn into adrenaline so I can be better focused.  My eyes were like a tennis fan watching Wimbleton from Center Court, always moving, always vigilant.  I passed to couples as they were standing out of a bar greeting each other.  One in neon shirts as if they were doing some night bicycling & another in casual clothes.  They were very cordial to each other.  I soon saw a man in shorts & a bare feet standing outside at night.  I walked but looked cautious preparing for anything but trying not to be paranoid, as if it might make things worse.  As it turned out, it looked like a resident taking a picture of a full moon.  He appeared shocked about it, as I said, "At least there are no werewolves."  Sorry, Twilight fans, Taylor isn't coming to Boston, at least not as a werewolf.  I managed to get to the street I wanted to approach, but as it turned out a tale of two sides; one old neighborhood, another modern chic.  As I was walking, I noticed a homeless man pushing a Home Depot shopping cart as he crossed the street.  I stayed & watched to make sure no cars hit him.  Fortunately, the bus coming that way came to a stop.  As I walked, I managed to pass a division of a police station.  Something to be cautious of for next time, if ones get paranoid.  I soon spotted a man talking another in a white pick-up, but I was too far to take a better look, & couldn't make any assumptions otherwise.  It was hard to lose, but better that than report or follow up on windmills that look like giants.  Last, I approached a couple when I was going to another train station, a woman in a white flowy dress kissing a man wearing white.  I watched as both appeared drunk & I feared the worse.  When I heard someone say the word, "whore," I turned quickly fearing something real bad.  It turned out to be the woman, & she apologized.  All I can say in finishing, I got to be prepared for Red Sox home games.  Trains get crowded after a night in Fenway, or the Garden, if you're a Celtics, Bruins, or any events fan.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016

My first regular patrols of Boston started in a certain section I've made regular appearances while on tours.  I was lucky I had a good sense of direction because it felt I was learning new trails along the way.  As I walked on the far section I basically watched the area.  One I looked at some people in a playground.  I was confused on the ages, but as soon I saw an authority figure, I knew it was safe.  As I had to avoid certain areas because my sunglasses couldn't handle the dim light & it was too risky to start in a well off section while I stand out like a sore thumb.  As I walked in more lit areas I noticed more people walked with their cell phones as the norm.  I felt there maybe some luck that it was popular areas.  I had to pace myself so not to look suspicious.  As I walked I felt more confident that Boston is right for me.  I wonder where my next adventure would take me?