humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
ALZvoiceforothers
Relocating to North Las Vegas, Nevada from Whittier, California 15 years ago was a true eye opener. My husband and I visited the Las Vegas strip often, never realizing there was another part of this city. Not even giving a second thought to a residential population in the city. A complete life separate and completely different from the 24/7 bright lights, tourists, gambling and entertainment.
By Patricia Stone6 years ago in Humans
Public Privacy
We all know we’re not supposed to do it but I do it all the time. I look at my fellow passengers on the subway or the bus or walking down the street or sitting in restaurants and diners. I’m careful about it, but I’m looking. And there is so much to see.
By Remington Write6 years ago in Humans
I thought you were quiet
I thought you were quiet" A month before move-in, I received a large white envelope enclosed with campus brochures, a list of all orientation events, shuttle bus departure to and from campus and a fancy, thick, off white page signed by the dean 'herself'. I read tediously, "Welcome Freshman 2010! I sincerely look forward to meeting all of you in person for orientation…" I then realize a small piece of paper the size of a sticky is paper-clipped neatly upon the back of the letter.The words in plain bold lettering say,
By MarieMarie Urban 6 years ago in Humans
Spin The Hennessey
"Spin the Hennessey" We wait close to twenty minutes across the street from campus for a bus in route to Rhode Island Station. Which to my surprise is only a few stops away from campus. Not at all the long ride I anticipated or overheard Lala complain as "long 'lye-ke' (like) shit" to walk. (Rhode Island Station from first impression is surely as dull as the night permits.) A street light buzzes above us as we walk past a dozen brick row-houses. Niecey leads us toward an apartment complex of which two men stand outside holding indisclosed bottles of ligour. I overhear "Everybody Looking" by Gucci Mane from within an apartment ground floor. One of the men holler in an oversized hoodie, his voice similar to Lil Jon scream "What?!Okay!," "Nieeeceeyy!Baby!" the closer we approach and embraces Niecey awhile pinching her voluptuous hips. "You lookin' right t'day baby girl." He lifts down his hoodie, "Hi ladies." Before fully walking inside, I recognize a smell reminiscent from earlier in the cafeteria on Lala of earthy yet, skunk-like musk. However, more pungent as the livingroom area is full of smoke. The entire home is dimly lit of light blue lavalamps. Bob Marley posters hang delicately all throughout the apartment walls and occasionally sway from an open balcony door. (It's windy but thoroughly humid.) I sit nervously aside Tanya, who has been sharing a 'blunt' with Lala ever since we left. (Tanya sloppily explains the contents of a blunt because I was the only one who didn't know what it was throughout the busride here. Further isolating my place amongst the girls but I couldn't care less. I think weed smells awful..) Niecey disappears into one of the bedrooms as Khadijah and Sky join the other man inside the kitchen. Sky fills her water bottle with Patron and guzzles aloud until empty. "Damn girl, you take it 'beck' (back.)" The other man says. Kristen bursts through the livingroom, "Whey (where) Blue at?!" She flicks through a couple songs from off a stereo the right of me, ( I can literally hear static inbetween songs and begin to prepare my senses as she increases volume.) "Grove St. Party" by Waka Flaka Flame cracks open my sides, thrushes below my legs and aggressively whips into the livingroom like thunder. I look up to spot Kristen smoothly quiver, lifting her tube top jersey further revealing a flat tummy of a dozen tattoos. (Girl can dance better than anyone I know and can dougie to any beat.) The man from the kitchen grabs hold of Kristen' waist and grinds. Tanya and Lala walk to the balcony, I hear them chuckle in spout of Kristen' weird behavior. Minutes later two other men walk toward the kitchen and pour themselves a cup of Patron. (Please keep in mind, I have little to none social skills. Social etiquette at a party.. Or so I thought includes a hostess who attends the needs of all party attendees. We talk, possibly drink. Eat? I've seen alot of movies about college frat parties. But none begin quite like this.) One of the men who just arrived sets beside me on the couch. He stares lustfully at Khadijah as she walks toward him holding two red cups. She smiles warmly, "How've you been?" I can sense they may know eachother. The air between them is thick enough to cut a knife through. "I been good. You?" Khadijah flirtatiously flips her silky, flatiron tresses and cooly looks away. "I been good." The man deeply sucks his teeth, "Stop playin', you haven't answered my texts all week." Khadijah crosses her arms (very unbothered by the way, whether I hear them or not.) She responds, "Look.. I've been busy with class and work. Sometimes I be too tired to text anyone back at the end of the day." The man obviously looks upset. I then devert my focus on Kristen menacingly wine in place as "Beat It Up" by Gucci Mane plays in the background.) "Yeah, sure. So when you off again?" Khadijah takes a sip from her cup, calculating her next response. " Uhh.. Come by Sunday." "Aiight..bet. You act like you can't talk or somethin'." Sky turns the stereo low, plops center of the room with a bottle of Hennessey in hand. She says, "Let's play spin the Hennessey!" Kristen stops dancing and joins. A man from the kitchen scoffs of the idea. Somehow everyone is back in the livingroom, "Game is real simple. But in this case whoever spin the Hennessey asks the other person to kiss somebody in the room or to a dare." Niecey leaves one of the bedrooms wearing a thin, lime green robe as followed by the same drunk fellow with the hoodie. He says, " Well spin the gawt' (got) damn thang. Im in it." Sky spins the Hennessey twice before it lands on Tanya. Tanya seductively walks over toward the kitchen and really..I mean really plants her lips deeply on the man who scoffed of the game. He bites her bottom lip as she tugs away. The expression on his face is dumbfounded. She spins and the bottle points toward Kristen. Who jerks forward and kisses Tanya before speaking. Khadijah squirms, "Well, damn." Kristen takes a turn and to her disappointment the bottle points on the guy who spoke to Khadijah. "Uh, hell no." He kneels down from off the couch as Kristen scrinches her face and perches her lips inward. Someone in the back says, "She dont want it! Im tryin' tell you." Everyone in the room laugh. Lala tosses a few orange and blue pills onto the floor. "Anyone who spins at this point got to take a molly." Kristen dry swallows one of the pills and spins once again. The second I look away toward the stereo (which is playing "Gucci Time" by Gucci) I peer down and see Kristen seductively rub her palms. Something in me, from out of nowhere blurts, "Dare!" ( I couldn't make myself kiss Kristen.) But somehow, my response makes her too excited to sit still, "Race me!" "Kristen, I can't race you." "Yea you can..Ill take Blue's car and you take Darrels. Race me to campus." (Strange enough no one thinks this is a wild idea. Including the men whose car we might use as a joyride. Darrel is the same guy who spoke to Khadijah earlier and Blue aka 'Daddy' is Neiceys' boyfriend.) " Im sorry, I can't drive..I- don't have a driver's license." Kristen leaps up and walks outside as Darrel reaches into his jean pockets for his car keys. "I'll sit in the passenger seat. Trust me. Driving aint hard." I nod my head no several times, but I begin to realize, this may be my only way back to campus. From what I could slightly remember, the bus we rode only turned one corner. I quickly imagine myself driving straight, but the idea itself is ridiculous. Although spinning, I can't think, my armpits begin to streamline sweat as I slowly make my way outside. I hear Darrel cackle from the back of me as he talks to Blue. Blue speaks holding a cigarette, "Hey you..(I turn nervously, it's apparent my body is shaking head to toe.) You don't have to... Kristen crazy as shit. (Inhales a cigarette puff and blows into my face.) But listen..Darrel can take you back." (At this very moment. I grow chummy of the idea. Rather myself in rear view of my own consciousness. But here is where I realize my anxiety was not due to what could happen, yet, menacing. Why not? I doubt I'll have another opportunity such as this to take a chance. A dangerous chance, but a chance no less. Blindly I say, "I'll do it." Before I can further process anything, I'm inside Darrel's cramped Nissan buckling my seatbelt. I felt minuscule, merely an ant rowing a boat. The tug and pull of an object so massive, seeps drearily forward. My fingers glide the wheel numbly until I meet Kristen at an intersection. "When the light go green you go..okay?" Darrel says in awe of his own disposition at this moment. I could tell he is tipsey but mainly indifferent if not bored. Kristen dashes forward, she pokes her head out of the driver's window inspite of another upcoming red light ( where we should turn left) however, Kristen speeds straight through the red signal and Darrel uses his left arm to help me turn the wheel once the signal turns green. I felt like an infant being quided to walk for the first time. ( Mind you it's after 2:00 am on a Friday. To my surprise no one else is driving.) Darrel tells me to stop at a curbside across the street from campus. As I get out, he says "That girl prolly not comin' back till the morning wit' Blue's car. I know..once he sobers up he gonna be peah-issed (pissed) she took his BMW somewhere southeast. Tuh!.. Be easy." As he spuds off, I become overly thankful to be on campus grounds. I stare graciously toward the small driveway that leads toward the dorms and thank heaven and earth to feel wind, and to hear it brush vastly against the scattered cherry blossom trees. Oh the wind! It's a beautiful thing.
By MarieMarie Urban 6 years ago in Humans
Compassion Is Also About Extending Love To Those That Don’t Understand
I was a community organiser for several years. Part of that job was to thrust myself into communities and create some cohesion between the residents. I miss that job. I remember that to entice people over I would cook everyone that came in a bacon roll. I’d waft the smell out of my kitchen and stand outside eating my roll.
By Raymond Baxter6 years ago in Humans
Moving Out This Sex Tunnel!!
I come from a weird time period. A period in time worst than the Soviet Union. A period in time worst than the reign of Hitler. A period in time worst than Jim Crow. A period in time worst than Slavery. I EDB come here from the nineties. The nineties is a sick place, and at the same time, a vibrant one. Today I was talking with one of best friends Matt aka (BidNugget). We were reminiscing our childhood. We talk about the Glory days of Television. We talked about our childhood heroes, and yes even our boyhood crushes. There isn’t a kid from the nineties who didn’t have one of them special dreams.... (DON’T MAKE ME SPELL THIS OUT!!, I’m trying to be CLEAN!!).. about Jodie Sweetin, you remember her, Stephanie Tanner from FullHouse? OR how about Kellie Shanygne Williams, Laura Winslow from Family Matters, Brandi, Tia and Tamara from Sister Sister, what I am trying to say is our parents had there work cut out from them.. Our sheets were always soiled, under pants were same, but we couldn’t help it, because the culture constantly fed it to us. These were the days where women were objects, eye candy, tools for a mans pleasure. FRIENDS? There was no such thing as “JUST FRIENDS!!” And even if you were, the culture said otherwise.
By Erik DeSean Barrett6 years ago in Humans
Exploring The Abyss...
A strange truth about this beautifully-tragic world.. People will say they miss you when you’re only a phone call / text away. They’ll say they miss you as if you don’t live ten minutes away. They’ll invite you to an event yet haven’t spoke with you for weeks on end. And they’ll like your posts and “support” you from a distance yet don’t have the time to simply ask “how are you feeling today?”
By Dead Since 976 years ago in Humans
Omar's Diary to 7th February 2020
During the last week of January my post prandial period of relaxation was interrupted in a most abrupt and disturbing fashion. Just as I was going into my light sleep there was a knock at the front door. I was unceremoniously bundled upstairs into a room that I had to share with Lady Servant and Mitzi. While there I heard the front door open, footsteps back and forth, some thudding sounds that came through the walls and “Left a bit, back…….to you….yeah, that’s it mate”.
By Alan Russell6 years ago in Humans
This is who
I am… I am sitting here right now watching Storm Ciara do her thing. I am relieved to not be out running the Worthing Half Marathon today. I am a runner. I am not fast, and I am not capable of running massive distances. I am 45 years old and I am experiencing injuries as a consequence of my running. Still, I am a runner.
By Mel Newman6 years ago in Humans
But Still
My brain tells me to stop spending money on the psychics app. My toxic need for reassurance shouts over it, and says fuck it. $29.90 later I feel slightly better. Still no answer from him. I’m sure he’s busy. My brain says check the snap score; it’s the same. But what about WhatsApp? Last active after I texted him. He saw it. I know he did. He’s busy. He’s ignoring me. Stop jumping to conclusions. He wouldn’t lay with you, and kiss you goodbye when you leave, and tell you to have a good day if he didn’t want to... right? He’s just playing the part because it’s easier than seeing you cry. You never take no for an answer. He’s stubborn but you’re more so. And you just won’t leave. He saved a picture of us from last weekend. He wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t want to look at it. Why would he want to look at it if he didn’t love you? Why would he say “love you too,” on your way out the door if he didn’t mean it? He wouldn’t. But still... he loves the dog more. She’s teachable. Doesn’t believe she knows everything and listens to him, that’s why. He hasn’t had a dog in years. She always happy to see him. He makes her happy, he doesn’t love her more. Why won’t he call me sweetheart, sweetie, babygirl, like he used to? Maybe it just slipped his mind. He’s been busy before and still managed to do it. He’s just waiting for you to get your car fixed, so everything can calm down for you; then he’ll tell you he doesn’t feel the same anymore. He does love you. If he didn’t you would be out no matter what. But still... you do laundry, you cook when you can, take care of all of the things he can’t, you go to work, you clean, you make sure everything is good for everyone else. Or at least try to. You do grocery shopping. You hold him down. He would be crazy not to love someone like you. He even said it himself. But still... this is a you problem. This is a problem you need to fix. He’s whitholding affection for a reason. He asked if you wanted soup yesterday because you’re both sick. He wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t care. But still... you need to relax... but still. He loves you. But still...
By Dallas Pinter6 years ago in Humans
Being a Carer for my Boyfriend
Hi everyone, This blog I will be explaining about how I am my boyfriends Carer and how I help him on a daily basis. My partner of 5 years for a while now has been suffering with pains in his joints and lower back pains. He went to see a doctor to get tested for a certain gene that runs in his family. He found out that he has Axial Spondyloarthritis, which is a rare form of Arthritis that runs in his family.
By Lauren Rose6 years ago in Humans
