“Do you like the Soth Side?” a young woman in the youth shelter asked me. We talked about her home; she said she is from St. Louis and wants to return there. “What about Chicago?” I asked her.
– Chicago is my second best. The South Side
-Which places do you like on the South Side?
-It’s not places; I like being there. I like how I feel. It gives me good vibes. People are friendly, and I feel good when I walk there and people say Hi.
-I like how you said it! It’s very important to feel good vibes!
And then she asked: Do you like South Side?
She asked with hope in her voice, and I avoided the answer.
I do not know it enough, although Igor took me to tour the South Side landmarks on multiple occasions. It is a foreign land for me; even though people are indeed nice and friendly, I do not belong there. And this young woman is blissfully ignorant of that.
I don’t know what to make out of that except for acknowledging the fact..
Hettie's Reflections 