Apologies to the artist of this work, i screenshotted it without including their name. A reverse Google search now just seems like way too much effort. Sorry, friend.
I’ve been spending a fair amount of time in Philly recently, a couple days a week. North Philly, to be exact. Which i love. Really, I love all the parts of the city. I spent a decade living in Northern Liberties and Manayunk before *reasons* brought me back to Yardley. I loved living in the city and miss living there a lot. Out here in the suburbs, I generally stand out. In the city, i’m just another weirdo.
As you all know, driving and having to park in Philly is a monumental pain in the ass, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. Today was one of those days.
I parked my car on the street, nay, I parallel parked my minivan without using a back up camera, thank you very much. I was a couple blocks from my final destination, so I did the phone/wallet/keys check before I got out of the car and locked her up.
I start walking and see a group of men about a half block up. There’s four of them-they’re smoking a blunt, passing around a 40 and shooting dice. As one does.
They’ve got the sidewalk effectively blocked off, two of them are in folding chairs on the sidewalk and the other two are sitting on a retaining wall type situation. I can’t go around them-the cars parked on the street are effectively bumper to bumper. I couldn’t jump into the street if I wanted to.
I realize almost immediately that the only way out is through. I begin mentally preparing for the task that lays ahead. Every woman knows this feeling. You steel yourself for the comments that are about to happen.
I walk up on them, say, “excuse me”, and start walking through their game. It only takes me a couple steps and I’ve cleared them. Not a word was said. Not so much as a “So how you dooowin??” I couldn’t fucking believe it.
Can I just tell you that I thought I would relish the day that the catcalling ended?? Turns out I was actually indignant AND offended! I bet if those guys had listened hard enough they could have heard the sound of my ego cracking into a million pieces.
I fumed for the next block. Those bastards were all OLDER than me. The nerve! When I got to my destination, I immediately started researching Botox(TM) providers.
So yeah, that’s how old I am. I’m ignorable years old. Goddammit, I thought this would feel cooler.