Sunday, May 02, 2010

Revisionist History

This is my first photo with my new iPhone. I am very happy that I spent the couple of hours it took to return the phone I purchased yesterday and attend to all of that... and then drive across the street to get an iPhone. I am very excited about this little doo dad.

So, in my travels this weekend, I was driving up Federal Boulevard in Denver, Colorado on the first weekend in May. If you have ever lived in Denver, you know this is not something you want to do. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated. The rogue element of the celebration is "cruising" Federal - making this road and all the roads leading to it virtually impassible.

I used to live 2 blocks from Federal in North Denver. It is a traditionally hispanic neighborhood. It is now one of those gentrified old neighborhoods with wonderful restaurants and cute shops. It is a beautiful old area with flagstone sidewalks, old trees, old houses, and old churches. But in 1998, Cinco de Mayo got so out of control, I holed up in my house for the entire weekend. I was afraid to leave the house. I should have left, but I didn't know if I could get out. The noise from the cars was deafening, and terrifying. In the end, there were (if I recall correctly) two murders, two blocks from my house.

After that weekend, I decided to move.

It is funny that this is not part of my "story." I don't think of my decision to move that way. Maybe it isn't flattering to me. I only remember this when it is the first weekend in May and I have visceral reminders of that time.

If you asked me last week why I moved from North Denver to the southern suburbs, I would have told you it was closer to work and that I couldn't afford to buy the old house I was living in - and I couldn't afford the upkeep on it. All of that is true, but those are not the real reasons. The real reason was that I couldn't live in a house where I would be trapped by rioting crowds for 3 days a year.

It does make you wonder what else you may have "revised" ....

That's why I have friends and family and a wonderful sponsor for frequent reality checks. And thank God for them.

10 comments:

Syd said...

Glad that you got the iPhone and now have lots of apps to look for and download (many cool ones are free).

I've never lived in a neighborhood where I was afraid to leave the house. I live away from people now and enjoy the silence, the dark where one can truly see the stars, the woods, and the water. It is ideal and paradise to me.

Scott M. Frey said...

I had to move from the home I was renting in East Toledo about 6 mos after getting sober... too many bad fiance/kid memories and a scary neighborhood at that...

Willa said...

Every time I see iPhone pictures I just marvel at how the quality is!

Luckily the only "bad" neighborhoods I lived in were because of divorces.

Have a great day, Mary.

dAAve said...

Reality?

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Anonymous said...

Whatever the reasons at the time, sounds like you ended up making a good move. I had no idea that Cinco de Mayo could be that way. Sounds a lot worse than our St. Patrick's Day celebrations here in Chicago, which can also get ugly at times. Take care!

Trailboss said...

I want an IPhone. So has one and he loves it.

Cinco De Mayo is celebrated around these parts but not nearly as much as in bigger towns.

Her Big Sad said...

That sure is a great picture! Hope you continue to love your phone... my oldest daughter is counting the days til her current contract ends and she can get one! :)

Carverlane said...

Ohhhh, the iPhone apps you will find...the Twelve Step Companion is terrific, especially the "Search" feature.

I also like WhiteNoise by TMSoft. The cat purring is my favorite.

Endless entertainment!

Kim from sAn Antonio

Anonymous said...

Revising history - yes I have been aware I have done that about some fairly major events, including a house move many years ago. I felt very guilty about the latter and mentioned it to my husband. Amazed to find his version of events is completely different and he now says he never had a problem with it. So I gave thanks to God and left it at that. I know the truth though.

I think this might be quite a common thing. Our lives are usually a lot more complex than the summaries we might produce for superficial public consumption.

I've certainly heard friends revising their histories even when they know I know what really happened!

Ed G. said...

Glad you got a phone you like.

My wife (and others) and I often remember the same history differently - whether it's yesterday, last week, or 30 years ago. The only things in common of those remembrances is that I'm always sure I remember "right," and I'm usually wrong.

Blessings and aloha...