Reflection on Walk #37 on Saturday, March 28 from Frank Homan Elementary school near Clinton and West Ave.A beautiful spring Saturday morning, 8 a.m. and yard sales were already underway along with mothers pushing strollers and runners with earphones. There was so much variety and interest on this walk; please see the photo album for pictures.After each walk, the FMWalkers talk about the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings observed. Here are lists that were shared by five FMWalkers from Walk #37:Sounds: barking, trains, wind in palm trees, birds, Ray’s language (Ray is deaf and uses a combination of ASL and his own sounds), traffic, wind chimes, car music, Spanish, airplanes, and Spanish radio music.Smells: blossoms, BBQ, trash, fast food nearby (KFC), dog poop, and deceased animals (couple of dead squirrels and a cat in an alley).Sights: walkers, Ray, alleys, Xfinity cable worker, yard sales, kids, Homan t-shirts, green grass, flowers, roses, tall canopy trees, shade, elderly, wheelchair ramps, American flags, trash, outdoor seating, mattresses, handicap license plates, Ralph (elderly man pruning his roses), old cars, inoperable cars, cars on brown lawns, self-employed business vehicles, work trucks, yard work, porta potty, front yard fences, dogs in yards, loose dogs without collars.Feelings: micro pocket neighborhoods, happiness in people (Ralph and Ray were friendly), outdoor seating sends open and welcoming message, strong work ethic, sadness and strain, basic living with no extras, only one house for sale and one house boarded up, roots (literal and figuratively) grasping for stability, pockets with front yard fences and then a few blocks with few/no fences says something about security issues.FMWalkers had mixed responses about the feelings in these neighborhoods – a variety of living conditions bumping right up next to each other. Walkers agreed with the feelings of strong work ethic confronted with strain from getting by on so little. Homan Elementary seems to be an anchor in this neighborhood. The low-water brown grass of Homan sits in contrast to the lush green lawns of the private school Our Lady of Victory Catholic school. Walkers contemplated contrasting brown grass (responsible water usage but less inviting) and lush green grass requiring a lot of water while also conveying that well-kept school grounds are a priority.These are the places we share with our brothers and sisters of Fresno. And all our lives and futures are tied up together.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized
