SUNDAYS AT THE PARK
I awoke yesterday feeling entirely un-rested. I’m not sure if it was the club kids from the Blarney Stone and their drunken screeches at all hours of the night or the bad dreams that kept waking me at regular intervals. Clouds hung over Vancouver for the entirety of Sunday and that suited me just fine. I was doing nothing but lamenting my downward feelings; sunshine would’ve seemed condescending. Despite the hazy cover of the day, I knew there were two puppies who needed to get outside, stretch their tiny legs and play. Around 2:30 p.m., Benji, Casey and I started the short trek to Crab Park at the head of Main Street.
I love Crab Park. I love that the boys can run around and play without leashes. Benji loves rolling around and giving his back some great scratches in the grass, whereas Casey could play fetch with his green rubber bone for hours on end if I’d let him. I also love Crab Park because I unfailingly meet interesting people there.
Original Photo: VanKeefer on Flickr
Yesterday I met a man named Miguel*. He was sitting on a bench by himself as I started to throw Casey’s rubber bone, so I looked over, smiled and said hello. This was all the encouragement he needed to stand up and come and talk with me. And so, as I watched the boys play in a foot of mud, Miguel and I talked.
He left El Salvador in the late 1970s, before the Civil War, and joined the army against his father’s wishes. The oldest boy of 10 children, Miguel’s father had hoped he’d stay and work on the farm. Instead, Miguel found himself in Canada in 1984 after a military stint overseas, and was soon married and living in Montréal. There he worked as a long-haul truck driver, often spending much time away from home. His marriage dissolved in 1999 after finding out from a neighbour that his wife was cheating on him while Miguel criss-crossed Canada.
It was then that Miguel found himself in Vancouver. Now in his late 50s, here he works at a minimum wage job, has no family in Vancouver and is not welcome to move back to El Salvador. He told me he was what’s known as the “black sheep” of his family. Miguel is an alcoholic. He now feeds himself with food stamps and lives in one of the Downtown Eastside’s hotels that is slated to close in order to make way for condos. It was about twenty minutes into our conversation that he brought out his handkerchief to dry his brimming eyes. He lives a life void of hope.
Original Photo: milder60 on Flickr
Though Miguel and I come from different backgrounds, we both could agree that Vancouver is a hard place to live at the best of times. This is a city in which there is no love – no real love. So many people are only out for themselves, in competition with everyone including their own selves. It’s harder still for those that do nothing but give, only to have more taken.
I told Miguel I hoped to be back next weekend to let the dogs play again. He told me he hoped we’d talk again. Miguel visits Crab Park every single day, no matter the weather. It brings him peace and rest, even if only for a few minutes. I am grateful for people like Miguel. Their strength and resilience has the power to bring us back to earth and put our own “problems” into perspective with the upturn of a smile.
* Name has been changed to protect privacy.
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11 Comments
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The last sentence says it all.
Very nice.. I mean.. the writing.. the post.. obviously his story should not be given the term nice… its.. important and well.. real.
I wouldnt call into question how tough his life has been and how cruel city life can be, especially when you got nothing going for you… but compared with some cities in places like.. El Salvador.. down in Brazil… or even Detroit or Baltimore… Miguel is much better off… but ahh.. i guess its all relative. Ill revert to my first statement.
this story brought a tear to my eye, especially since I’ve been a little caught up in my own ‘problems’. I have a feeling that Miguel is thankful for people like you – one of those rare individuals who take the time to listen, without judgement. I’m sure he appreciated the smile and conversation that had unfolded as much as you did.
I loved your post, and I agree – Vancouver is a city where love seems to be particularly absent, despite the fact that just about everyone says how much they ‘love this city’. But really, do they give their love freely just as you did with Miguel? Do they really think about ways to improve people’s lives? I think often they don’t.
I dug up an old post that I wrote about Vancouver being a toxic city. I think it is, I really do. Not to me, because I got a great group of friends, but to other people, it really does kill their soul. I am, however, very glad to see that it has done nothing to your soul, and that you have such positive energy!
Here’s the essay:
http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/is-vancouver-a-toxic-city/
That was beautifully written Keira. I loved reading it.
Great story, i never thought I’d be reading about my people and my country in your website its such amazing… Miguel is one of the many Salvadorians who left this country trying to find a better life, following a dream that for some might come true but unfortunately for many others this dream never come. Personally i really admire these people for their courage and the love for others, the latter is the biggest reason for them to leave to whats unknown.
Living in a big city (specially one you don’t know) is hard, you desensitize yourself, time normally flies, and suddenly you are living under a robotic routine.
Taking care of others, sharing with real friends, spending a few minutes during the night looking at the sky, traveling to those areas where you know everything is more real, and of course, spending time with your family, are actions that really fulfill life; in other words SIMPLICITY.
Thanks so much for sharing stories like Miguel’s, and thanks for Miguel and many others who bring us back to reality.
“This is a city in which there is no love – no real love. So many people are only out for themselves, in competition with everyone including their own selves. It’s harder still for those that do nothing but give, only to have more taken.”
Keira I think that you’ll find this is the case in most places on this planet. The pressure to “succeed” in life takes everyone away from actually living. Everyone is merely a slave in the system… taught to be self absorbed in order to serve this system. Taught to ignore the things which really matter in life. Pressured to give themselves a good image (or something to envy) in the eyes of the other competitors to raise the level of competition. To be the best seems to be the destination for most, but this goal is all consuming of life itself… when it’s all over what will you have to show expect for hard hands and a cold heart?
When I walk down the street I make an effort to look into each and every persons eyes and smile… I just wish I received the same sincerity back. I wish people weren’t so detached… I wish we put the same amount of effort into giving as we currently put into taking.
Great post by the way Keira!
I’m glad you actually take the time to talk to people and sincerely listen to them, as you’ve noticed you can learn a lot from someone. And knowing that someone actually gave a darn about his story probably meant the world to him
Excellent post. You have a superb writing style.
I’ve only just discovered your blog but I feel I’ll become a regular reader. Stories like this never fail to make me smile.
Dan
Great post. People that live in Downtown East side are people too, they all have their stories for ending up in the neighbourhood. Perhaps one day the government will finally have affordable housing for these poor souls.
um, do we use food stamps in Canada?
[...] ADDENDUM – And if you want to hear another story about this troubled area, you can mosey over to Keira’s post. Her account of her experiences while walking her dogs around Crab Park is quite touching. [...]