Drugs? Bullying? …?

 

Have you ever seen shoes handing from light, telephone wires and thought why they are there?

The act of “shoe tossing” - in which shoes are tied together by their laces and thrown across power lines - is considered by some to be a folk sport. Everyone has seen it, yet no one really knows what the shoes symbolize or why shoe tossing happens in the first place.

There are many reasons or legends why there are shoes hanging from wires. The most popular one being bullying. According to some urban folks, bullies steal the shoes off their victims and toss them on the wires, where they cannot be retrieved.

Popularly, shoes on a telephone wire are said to be linked to organized crime, signifying the location of gang turf, or commemorating the death of a gang member. They are also rumored to commemorate an event, like the end of a school year or a wedding. The shoes are also rumored to mark a spot for drug deals.

Perhaps all of these reasons are true to some extent, however, I saw a bicycle way up high and wondered what they were selling at that spot. What do you suppose it is?

Written: February 25, 2024

Photo: Personal file ( Meire Marion)

 

 

 

Cida, Maria Aparecida

 

Gray hair, needs to use a crutch, and always wears a cloth mask to protect her from the bacteria floating in the air – every morning she stands at the corner on an extremely intersection.

She smiles when she approaches your car window and smiles, which can be seen in her eyes since she has the mask on. There are some days when she is not there or perhaps it is I who am too early to catch her there.

This morning, I woke up with a strong feeling that I needed to help her out. You see, usually I don´t. There are several reasons for that but nonetheless she always smiles and waves hello or goodbye depending on the traffic light. When I do help her, it is with small change, but today I felt I could give her a substantial amount for her to buy whatever she needed.

As I was driving towards the intersection, I had decided to check my instincts. If she were there, I was supposed to help her, if not, it was just an illusion.

The light was red and there she was. My heart smiled. I called her over, rolled down my car window, said good morning and handed her the folded bill.

With tears in her eyes, she looked at me and asked me whether she deserved that much. I simply said yes. Found out her name was Cida, Maria Aparecida. The light turned green. As I started to drive off, she thanked me and yelled “God bless you”. Little does she know that I was feeling blessed.

Written: February 23,2024

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Persistence

 

Almost stillborn. Grew up alone and lonely. Perhaps due to body size which did not fit in with the social patterns. Shamed by peers through name calling, finger pointing and laughter. At times the height and glasses were also included in the act. When puberty hit, it all got worse right up to the point in which giving up this journey was her best choice. Fortunately, there were some close friends who were quick to the rescue. Friends who went through the same experience but for other reasons. Being extremely intelligent and introverted, the local library gave her the empowerment she needed to persist placing one foot in front of the other.

February 7, 2024 (This short text came to my mind during a workshop at work where we needed to choose a picture and tell others how we related to it.)

photo: taken by me