
The store manager was there mopping up after the early morning break in. He looked exhausted and his Monday was off to a pretty shitty start.
"They" took things, meaning drug store items (all the ibuprofen you can eat!) and holiday decorations. Of course they fled before the police could arrive.
My first thought, after knowing no store employees were hurt, was how overwhelming it must feel to experience such need. But need for what? Aspirin? Nutcrackers for their kids because they couldn't afford nice presents? Or because the resale value on the street is high for wooden soldiers? I don't mean to sound facetious. But I think of the phrase: "helpless people have a way of controlling everyone around them." So, the perps break in and so many others have to account for and clean up their mess.
But need is real. And ever so evident right now. Oakland Local is once again live blogging the Port of Oakland work stoppage this morning. I am torn in my feelings about this. The soundbites from the truckers who will loose pay because they can't work bother me. A lot. My husband and I go round and round on the merits of some of these actions. Does a movement and its voices have to be coherent right out of the gate in order to garner momentum? Evidently not. But how about respect or growing cohesion?
It's grey and cold here in the Bay Area today. There is need everywhere and its never felt more acutely than during this three month trifecta of too much food, thanks and gifts.
But my thoughts keep turning to the nice manager of our local CVS. The look on his face and the exhaustion in his eyes. I need to mull this over. What are your thoughts on this?