Yesterday, walking south on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan a man approached with what I can only call “brio” and asked if I could be an animal what kind would I like to be? He’d spotted my guide dog and had a shtick. I told him I’d like to be horse. He said that was beautiful. Then asked if I’d ever heard of the ASPCA. So yes, and yes, beauty and animal advocacy on the busy sidewalk. I told him I’m a donor to the aforementioned organization which is true. And then I hurried on my way.
The man from the ASPCA was really a kid. He must have been all of 18. He wanted to save the animals. I in turn wanted to save him. I want all earnest young people to have decent lives. The war in Ukraine is on my mind 24-7. I want to stop under lamp posts and weep. The window is closing on our likelihood of staving off environmental collapse. Putin is pretending its 1945.
How the dictator laughs as children die in the streets. His curdled blood quickens in his chest at the sight of human misery.
I’m going for a walk in just a few minutes. Me and my dog. It’s sunny in New York City. I’ll walk in Central Park.
I’m going to dedicate my small portion of living to those who are suffering. Do you see what Putin forces us to say? Life is not a singular gift. He’d know if he had one.
Planet of the Blind 