GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

Yesterday I stood at Charles Street and Kenilworth on behalf of PEACE. Women in Black sponsored their sixth annual peace path from Charles Street at the inner harbor to Charles Street and 695.



I stood there for many reasons, but one of the most important reasons for this was on behalf of a friend who perished on 9/11/01 in one of the twin towers, his name was Joe Maggitti. He was a peaceful person, a funny and lighthearted person with a wife and family. I remember him always smiling, always laughing. I stood there on behalf of his family, praying they were keeping on and doing well.



I stood there because I myself am trying to be a peaceful person. I think it all begins with an individual. Until we are peaceful with ourselves and each other, we cannot imagine peace throughout the world. I'm not even certain the concept of peace is something that can exist worldwide, but I'm starting with myself first, then the world. As far as the other peace mongers around, they may have had a whole different reason for standing there for Peace. It could have been for 9/11, it could have been war, it could have been many reasons for which I will never know.



Standing there was an interesting two hours. The lady I stood with, a retired hospice nurse, was spat on just before I got there. Spat on! We got a lot of horn blowing and peace signs and thumbs up. Most everyone driving was supportive of our vigil. It was interesting, though, to see some of the drivers reactions to people standing there quietly holding up their hand made signs with the messages of PEACE. One lady hung her head out the window and called us Jackasses. A few gave us the finger. One lady just shook her head NO regarding my peace sign. I was uncertain what that meant... No to Peace - Yes to Conflict??? Who knows. I would have liked to been able to read their minds. They too have preconceived notions to why each of us stood there wanting peace and I guess it didn't ring true to their beliefs. People smiled and waved, but the most funny thing I witnessed was a driver who was impatient and waving her arms at the van who stopped to hand us fliers (it was Robert Kauffman, the Baltimore City Mayoral candidate -- I could tell by all the bumper stickers on his van). The lady beeped her horn, cursing at him. He was only a second, but this woman was furious. I stood there thinking to myself, this is what I look like when I'm driving home on most days. I have to remember how completely silly it looks to other people. I wonder if she felt silly, especially since we were all standing there with our peace signs. ( Note to self, I really need to work on my peacefulness when driving. )



Anyway, the two hours went by pretty fast. At 6:00 we said our goodbyes got in our cars and went home to our cozy cottages.



I don't know how the other participants felt, but it felt good to stand there and bring the message of PEACE to the forefront of people's awareness, if even for just a second. It all begins with the individual, one peace path at a time.



PEACE OUT

Well, it is Monday and this morning's commute was much more peaceful. Driving is an area where I would like to be a more peaceful person; however, I am still working on this. Baby steps.

Driving in Baltimore

Here are a few things I need to get off my chest this morning driving 695 to 83 north:



1. People in the left lane going 55 or 60 while talking away on their cell phones - GET THE F___CK OVER!!!! I don't care if you think you are right going the speed limit or not - GET THE F___CK OVER. You cause more accidents by being righteous than those aggressive drivers speeding around you.



2. Is everyone sooo important that they feel they must be on the cell phone as soon as they get into the car???? Come on, for God's sake, YOU ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT. The age old question, what did we do when we didn't have cell phones, talk to ourselves? I am not an old person who doesn't believe in cell phones, but I sure don't have anyone I want to talk to the whole time I'm driving, especially first thing in the morning. The police are out to target aggressive drivers, but the real culprits are the drivers who drift from lane to lane oblivious to those driving around them and unable to use their turn signals because of us humans only having two hands. May be when we evolve (if ever) we will somehow grow another hand for those of you who have too many things to do while driving a motor vehicle. YOU MAKE ME SICK! HANG THE F UP AND DRIVE YOUR CAR. PAY ATTENTION!;

3. Ladies, your car is not your personal beauty salon. Put your makeup on at HOME. Take your curlers out at HOME - Your rearview mirror is not there as a makeup mirror. It is used to keep the driver in tune with those around them; and, last but not least,


4. Put your lights on when its raining!!!

Somehow after this rant, I still do not feel better about the drivers in Baltimore. Stay safe.

A beautiful day in the Westfield village of Hamilton. Sunny, breezy and a high of 80 degrees. No humidity!!! Can't beat that. Lots of changes going on the Harford Road. Down near Koko's and The Chameleon Cafe (south of Echodale ) (technically, Bayonne Ave), but new medians, brick crosswalks, great coffee, great food, my my, how we have come along. Hopefully this renaissance will continue northward towards Westfield.

Hey all, what do you think of the name Westfield? I don't know about you, but personally, when I tell that to people I feel like I'm living on the west side of Baltimore (like Catonsville or something). But here we are, in Hamilton, the northeast city suburb of the city Our Westfield neighborhood is the best kept secret in Baltimore, hon!

Don't forget, John Waters, that krazy dude, loved our area enough to film "A Dirty Shame". Wow! Could be the next Broadway hit!

Film companies are welcome anytime!

Welcome to krazy kat

The kat is IN. WELCOME! Namaste! I would like this blog to be a gathering of voices from the Westfield neighborhood of Hamilton. Also, a place for me to vent about driving in Baltimore, words my cat can say and occasionally those topics that strike my fancy, i.e., acts of kindness, the concept of the hundredth monkey effect, the everyday beauty that surrounds us and the everyday things we are grateful for and on and on... so, without further ado, my blog begins.