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The Downtown Kid
  • Coming Home: Reclaiming Your Space after Abuse

    If you lived with your abuser, or if your abuser spent any real time in your home, then you probably still see the memories — good, bad, and horrific — play out like movie clips right in front of you. Maybe you hear his laugh and smile sadly for the sweetness that once was. Or… you hear him yelling and wince at the malicious delight in his eyes when he sees that he hurt you. Maybe you even dread going home because you don’t want to keep reliving these moments, seeing and feeling the ghosts of what was, trying to push through the longing for what should have been. Maybe…

  • Thank you, Main…

    Because Main Street Makes You Feel Beautiful Most days, I like who I see in the mirror. I mean, enough anyway. Been working on that self-worth and all. As a woman, though, I’m societally trained to tear myself apart any time I pass a reflective surface. You don’t really mean to, but there you are, trying not to criticize yourself in a passing window. Since I can’t help looking sometimes, I stare at the ground more now. Hence the pennies. So this past weekend, I was standing on Main waiting to cross Union. I’m in front of Gould’s, and there’s a woman a few years younger than I am on…

  • Merry Christmas and Be Good to Each Other

    Merry Christmas, even though it’s something I don’t even really celebrate. My bah-humbug attitude from this morning has been completely displaced by my appreciation for the strength and beauty of humanity. The Orphan Christmas Firstly, thank you Bardog for being open today, for all the employees who gave up time with their families to feed a bunch of us flying solo or those looking to escape tonight. Don’t know that you’ll ever know how thankful we all really are. I got the special tonight. Blackened chicken Alfredo on penne with sautéed mushrooms, and in true Bardog fashion, it was delicious. I couldn’t eat it all and had my leftovers boxed…