It was okay when Bruce the "massage guy" set up shop at the head of the boardwalk. He's a good guy and his clients quietly enjoy their therapy under his awning. It really wasn't okay when Anthony put up the restaurant, but we learned to live with it because it was classy and actually had good food. We made fun of his prices, but we liked him and his staff. Also, he was so kind to the elderly Gold Coast grandmas who loved his Sunday buffet. The city did not renew Anthony's lease and instead gave it to a well connected restaurant group who has turned it into a gaudy, cheesy overpriced concession stand. Then came the vendor with the outrageously priced rentals of lounge chairs and beach umbrellas. Taking up good beach space and practicing sporadic hours - that's good business?
Today was the last straw. I got there before my friend, Marcia. I settled in, opened my crossword puzzle, oiled myself up and sank into my chair. I got about 30 minutes of solitude. Then they came..... the tourists including the foreign ones with no clue about protocol or courtesy, the locals with their abundance of pricey toys, and about a million 20 somethings who belong many beaches north of here. They set up too many volleyball courts, tossed around too many footballs in high traffic areas and displayed way too much skin (and flab).
The so called restaurant started some amplified "music" that interfered with my brain - was trying to complete a crossword puzzle and read a book. Then I finally got it. 36 years of sacred space down the drain. It happened gradually, but today it hit me smack in the face. Oak Street is turning into North Avenue - or even worse - Coney Island
HELP.
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Good to hear from you again Mom! This is a good piece....our beach, as well, is changing.
ReplyDeleteLynn it's wonderful to see you back to blogging. Can commiserate. For a long time I've felt Chicago was a good "size" in the 60s thru the 70s - my favorite piece of lakefront property disappeared in the early 80s which was when I stopped going to all the wonderful places in Chicago as they were clogged with tourists (local and other. It's atrocious that the City in its greed has "sold" the lakefront to vendors; without them folks might go elsewhere or stay at home with all their "stuff". Perhaps this crazy weather will last long enough into fall and peace and quiet will reign again on your plot of beach.
ReplyDeleteI can relate as I have had my little spaces invaded here in Texas where I live recently as well. What first was a quiet park where my boys could play while I read a book has turned into a teenage "hang-out" spot. The abundance of profanity, loud music, graffiti, and rowdy youth has turned us another direction more than once. Why can't cities claim some "quiet space"?
ReplyDeleteSome people call that progress, but I call it destruction. Here in the island of Penang, Malaysia where I have retired, luxury condos are being erected one after the other. The hillsides of tropical rainforests are quickly disappearing and being replaced by very expensive condos that are empty 90% of the time, Being owned by the new millionaires of China. Soon this island will be an island of concrete. Enjoy what little beach you have left.
ReplyDeleteI was able to overcome senile dementia via a complete naturopathic process.
ReplyDeleteAbout two years ago, when I was 56, I started feeling foggy and had occasional memory lapses. My wife, Mary, started to notice it, too, but I also have hearing issues so she thought that was the problem. My memory worsened very gradually over the years, and we lived with it, compensating as needed. I became less social. After some months thereafter, it got to the point where we couldn’t keep making excuses or ignoring it. I had gone from doing our grocery shopping without a list to going with a list, to having the list but not buying what was on it.
Mary went online to do some research, and it was during this process we had been fortunate enough to come across Dr. Utu Herbal Cure: an African herbalist and witch doctor whose professional works had majored on the eradication of certain viral conditions, especially dementia, ( improving the memory capacity positively), via a traditional, naturopathic process and distinguished diet plan. It was by the administration of this herbal specialist that I had been able to improve my condition for better. So to say, the encounter with the above-mentioned herbal practitioner was the first time we ever heard there was something that possibly can be done to improve my memory functionality.
By the existence of such an encounter, I was able to learn of the new approach by which this herbalist successfully treated dementia conditions, which included a distinguished herbal therapy and lifestyle changes of which I had undergone to a tremendous, positive effect.
It was after the completion of the herbal therapy I had started to experience a great deal of cognitive improvement when it came to rational decision making.
In brief, I was able to go through the dreadful hollows of senile dementia without any further hazardous damage to my health condition, and within a short period. Had it not been for the support of my wife, of whom had encouraged me to undergo the above-mentioned therapy and that of the herbal practitioner of whom now happens to be benefactor - I would have been long exposed to the further perils of this condition and of which had been apt to result to a calamitous end.
I would also wish for the same positiveness upon patients who may happen to be suffering from this debilitating disease, and would warmly beseech them to find a confidant like this herbal specialist with whose professional service I was able to attain a divine recovery.
For further information concerning this African common cure for Alzheimer's disease; feel free to contact Dr. Utu directly via email: drutuherbalcure@gmail.com