Life in the big city

A few years ago I was walking through an area of Chicago near "Boys Town" where I used to live with a friend of mine from the suburbs. He was made speechless by the various lunatics that lived in the immediate area, including:

- the guy who played TERRIBLE sax in the street right below my windows at all hours of the day and night (how many times can you listen to the theme from "The Simpsons")
- the crazy homeless guy who lived in the ATM machine (on the bench where you wrote your checks) and relieved himself in the garbage can
- a guy walking down the street in the middle of the day, shirtless, with blood all down his chest from a wound on his forehead

The thing is, I didn't even bother pointing out these people to him, because, to me, they aren't even news. If I thought it was news every time I saw a deranged homeless person, I would be suprised 24*7. ANY of these people would be arrested within 30 seconds of setting foot in any of the upscale suburbs that ring Chicago... but here, it is just the way things are, I guess.

It was all kind of summed up to me when I saw the typical "begging" sign made from a cardboard box in the construction debris...

The debris from the TRUMP TOWER. Yes this is the other 1/2 of Chicago, going along with the fact that I am not astounded that the Trump tower is selling well even though 1) it is super expensive 2) it is going up in a horrendous real estate glut.

There are a lot of people with a lot of money; they aren't afraid to spend it.

And they aren't surprised to share company with a lot of deranged homeless people.

And that is why this post is called "Life in the Big City"...