The Smells In This City

Until four months ago, I had never lived in a big city in my life. The realities of such a life have been confronting me daily since I arrived. It's crowded. Everything is stone and concrete and brick. Its filthy. With few green spaces, all tucked out of the way in isolated corners, there is dog excrement everywhere, usually in the shape of a smashed skid from the shoe of the poor pedestrian who was so unfortunate as to step in it. There are homeless begging, and insistent street vendors who seem not to know I have a particularly large bubble of personal space because they seem always to be entering it. But worst of all presented itself just one week ago when all of a sudden the spring seemed to arrive all at once.

One night it was beautiful, and hot, and a whole new side of the city showed itself. The smell. The smokers were always here but it was one bus ride I took last Wednesday in particular when I realized the reality of living in a city is infinitely worse than I'd imagined. I rode this particular bus on a day that was hot though not unbearable. I could discern each distinct smell coming for each individual passenger.

As the heat increases each day, it gets worse. Sometimes it's better to stay home and starve than go out and confront my neighbors and fellow Pam Supermarket shoppers, their lack of hygiene a complete affront. But it's not just the people. It's the trash cans, the dog excrement, the plumbing in my apartment, the exhaust from a million cars. It's disgusting.

Please, oh please, take me to the Pacific!