I do not mean in any way to belittle or diminish the importance and
relevance of life in this topsy turvy town for those of us who live
here.

You probably know about some of the echoes of violence that have been
resounding around here lately. Me, I've never seen so much police
activity in my life. Last Friday heading home from work I had to make
two detours due to police activity. One was a swat team that had the
whole of a street blocked off and the other some more minor disturbance
that looked ready to explode.

Well, today I asked a colleague if they had heard of anything amiss -
the vibe on the streets last night was decidedly the most edgy I've
felt in my usual evening walk downtown. And I certainly didn't
remember the bullet holes nor the panes of glass being cracked and
crazed on my block. And for a very first, Isabella stood between me
and trouble - she never does but something within her took over and
suddenly she was between me and those who were questionable.

The swat team activity was for a fatal shooting and the bullet holes on
my block were indeed new and for still another fatal shooting. And
people think I'm kidding when I tell them I hear gunshots at night.
There is a different wind indeed that blows here at the moment. This
is the life of an urban cliff dweller in the streets of Oakland - have
mercy and pity for those who have no home to shelter within. Why on
earth someone can't do something is beyond my comprehension. I walk
here because I live here and this is how it should be. Needless to
say, that is now under consideration.