Their van pulled up next to a group of guys who crowded the streets talking loudy, foul language on their lips. I could see the fear and hesitation in my cousins eyes as their children filed out of the car. "Is our stuff okay?" was one of their concerns as a slew of bikes were strapped to the back of their mini van traveling north. Just as the last child hopped out, the cops arrived blocking the street cuffing some guys on the block. My heart sank, of course this would happen today, the day I finally got some family members to come visit my world. That picture, and that sense of fear will always be what they associate Chicago with, sadly that is all most see, but what I long for is for them to see the beauty.
When moving into the neighborhood, I too was fearful. I wondered if I could ever be home along and feel safe. I wondered if I could never go out at night, in fear of being jumped. I thought I would be greeted with cold stares and hostility, but none of those have been true. Moving into the neighborhood granted me one of the greatest blessings and that was to see the beauty that so much of the world is missing out on. We were not greeted with cold stares and hostility, we had neighbors who ran across the street offering to help us move in, who shook our hands welcoming us to the neighborhood and offering that if we ever needed anything they'd be right over. It wasn't an empty offer either because since that day those very men have come on numerous occassions to help us. Just the other day we were trying to figure out how to put up our basketball rim and 3 of the guys sat in our yard explaining all that we needed to do it and offering to come back to put it up. That day while we were gone one of the men returned and weed whacked a spot in our back yard so that the kids could play.
We were given a garden shortly after moving in and each day while we have been out working in the garden, different neighbors have stopped by to introduce themselves and ask about what we are doing. Some offered to help, some thanked us for what we are doing, and one told us about the pear tree in his yard and told us we could stop by any time we wanted and take pears. No one has tampered with our stuff, threatened us, or even treated us coldly. The only things we have ever had stolen was our garbage can and one basketball which was quickly found by one of our child and demanded to be returned. Our neighbors say hi to us everytime we are outside and care about the small details of our well being such as telling us not to park next to the speed bump fearing our car will be hit.
There is a beauty about this place that is unique, its community.
