AM I A NOBODY?

Firework Debris

Trash

• Emily Dickinson wrote:

  I'm nobody! Who are you?
  Are you nobody, too?
  Then there's a pair of us — don't tell!
  They'd banish us, you know.
  How dreary to be somebody!

  How public, like a frog
  To tell your name the livelong day
  To an admiring bog!
  
  

  Well, I sincerely believe we are ALL somebody no matter what and hopefully my columns depict that.

  
  

Trash  and firework debris is strewn about as people who reside in the Point neighborhood deal with the ignorance of others which includes those that patrol the area. I have been a Salem resident my entire life and I have lived just about everywhere within a city that I love and a city that is diverse. As a grandmother I generally do get along with others and I do consider myself knowing many people as well as many types of people. However, I know that when I cross Lafayette Street to visit with my elderly mom or to spend time with my grandsons I generally find my patience being tested.

Now, I am aware that many of my readers will say , "Well you live in the Point so deal with it." Deal with it I will not since this city is my city and I also consider Salem my home. A home that lacks as of late courtesy with not only some of the residents, but those that travel through Salem onto Lafayette and Washington Streets. The other morning for example I pressed the lights at Dow and Washington to bring my grandchildren home after a wonderful sleepover at my house and as the light was red a driver in a pick-up truck laughed and he hit his gas pedal speeding right by my grandchildren and me who just missed being struck; meanwhile a patrol car was facing in my direction and whether the officer saw what had just occurred I am honestly not sure - one thing I  am sure of is that when I walk to my mom's or my daughter's at times I am followed as the patrol car probably is wondering what I am doing in the "neighborhood." Another thing I am sure of is that though there are young children with parents on the streets at 11:00 at night crying because fireworks are being set off, even though it is not yet July 4th, that the patrol cars will just drive by as if they are taking a country ride. Now, most of the people on the street of course do not have to work or even get up in the morning so they do not even comprehend that others that live among them do have obligations.

Initially the Point was settled in the 1850's and does to this day encompass architectural and historical significance. A significance that is reflected amongst most of the area residents with just the few "bad apples" that give the neighborhood its bad name. And it is the few "bad apples" that need to know that we as long-time residents do not want to tolerate the nonsense of not caring for your neighbors and not caring for yourselves. And it is those in authority and others not living in the area that also need to stop labeling those that live here due usually to economic reasons. Especially when there are those who live in the area that own businesses and take pride in their homes. And I will be the first to attest that problems can be found everywhere within Salem and that issues certainly do not just happen in the Point.

As I mentioned to a local landlord that I was going to write this on my blog I was confronted with the fact that I should be more compliant and to give in. Giving in is not in my nature and honestly I do not care what others do provided whatever is going on does not "bleed" into the lives of myself or my family. So as July 4th is right around the corner have all the fun you want on July 4th and God Bless America. Also, to those police officers that do their job, especially under rough circumstances...Thank you from all of us "Nobodies."

Read More:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/news/lifestyle/columnists/x1722635354/Tammy-Callanan-Littering-and-fireworks-trouble-the-Point#axzz1QrahCWEF