No longer determined to die. (Photo courtesy of nolastname, August 2010)
Last week, when they first published my story, I thought I was taking my last breath — but, somehow, my diaphragm just kept on going.
The next day, when someone started taking pictures of me, it was early morning and I really wasn’t in any mood. Then, the photographer told me that life is like that. Every day is a sunset. Some days it’s a lovely sunset, some days pretty dull — but, there’s always a sunrise. Even if the clouds obscure it, the sun rises.
I suddenly felt some hope, and taking my last breath wasn’t the only thing I could think about. This ain’t no kind of life for a shopping cart, but things could be worse, I suppose. I mean, I could have ended up in the Gowanus Canal, instead of near Caesar’s Bay or whatever place this is.
Shopping cart dying on the rocks. (Courtesy of MSniceguy, August 2010)
Ashes to ashes. Metal to metal.
Here I am, taking my last breath. I know you didn’t see me covered by the gentle waves hitting the rocks, and I know it’s hard to see my clunky metal when you’re thinking of the lovely (though, somewhat hazy) Verrazano Bridge view.
If my wheels must take its last roll, it’s better that I die here with this lovely sunset than buried under some cold, dark soil.
Shopping cart in search of a locksmith to let him back into his home. (Photo courtesy of Stefanee Rivera))
A reader, Stefanee Rivera, sent us this photograph of a lost shopping cart and gave us the background story.
This poor little guy was found early Saturday morning seeking assistance from the locksmith inside. Apparently he got locked out of his house (Walbaum’s) and couldn’t find a neighbor to help. He wandered over to the locksmith on Ave. X and Ocean Ave. for some help getting back inside. The nice locksmith who works there called his parents and told them he was waiting for them at the shop. They said they would be “right over” to pick him up. However, according to the locksmith, at 3:45PM, the lonely little shopping cart was still there waiting for his mom and dad. I suggested he call the Administration for Shopping Cart Services (ASCS) if they hadn’t come to pick him up by closing time.
Hearing the news that the shopping complex where the Waldbaum’s store is located has been sold for $10 million, may have made him a little nervous about his family’s future.
Shopping cart and pillow bed mattress. (Photo courtesy of nolastname, 2010)
Roaming the streets of Sheepshead Bay all day with these bags of cans sure can be tiring.
I guess it’s not as bad as some have it. At least I have some shelter (the Belt Parkway overpass at Ocean Avenue) and a place to rest my head at night or day or whenever the mood takes me.
Now, if I could only get me a pillow and some sheets. Oh, yeah, and some earplugs, ‘cuz that Belt Parkway rumbling and bridge renovation sure does keep me awake!
I’m the lovely red shopping cart just kidnapped from the Staples Office Super Store on the corner of Avenue Y and Ocean Avenue. But, who’s going to be looking for or at me in this post?
Someone stuck this cutie pie baby into me and rolled us over to the brand new P.S. 254 playground. Talk about getting overshadowed. Will anyone notice my lovely red paint or will they just see his baby soft skin? Why do I even ask?
Dance scholarship recipient, Mikhail Calliste, and CBTB Artistic Director, Marla Hirokawa. (Photo courtesy of Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn, Inc., 2010)
Back in 2008, we wrote about the Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn, Inc (CBTB) and its move out of its long-time Sheepshead Bay residence, into to a new Midwood home.
Since then, the dance school has been developing even more programs as a non-profit organization, and offers special scholarships for promising young dancers.
Find out about Covenant Ballet’s scholarships, and one of its talented recipients.
For those of you following the very emphatic Facebook page of THIS IS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, you know that the class of 1990 and friends of Sheepshead Bay High School alumni are planning a special summer get together and reunion for anyone who graduated from the school.
The event will have a sports spin with a planned basketball game. Here is the information in a cut-and-paste from the Facebook page (date clarification added). There is also a mingling party planned at TGIF restaurant in Sheepshead Bay the night before the reunion. There’s not much time left to pay the entrance fee, unless you use the PayPal payment option.
Check out the details of the Sheepshead Bay High School gathering
My photograph was submitted way back in November of 2009! Yes, I said 2009.
Apparently, the editors were afraid of the mixed messages that might be sent by a shopping cart sitting on a window ledge. But, what’s the big deal? Let people think what they want. So, I’m an undersized cart perched precariously on a window ledge where there are no child-safety bars. So, what? I may be small, but I’m no kid and I don’t think I’m Superman. I was just hanging out enjoying a quiet morning view, so please don’t call the ACS (Administration of Cart Services) or they’ll arrest my owner for neglect.
It’s not like I’m thinking of ending it all or planning revenge by throwing myself headfirst onto some unsuspecting human.
Vacation Bible School flyer distributed by Bethel Baptist Fellowship 2010
The Bethel Baptist Fellowship church distributed these flyers to residents in the Sheepshead Bay area. You are invited to bring your child to their Vacation Bible School (VBS) next week during the evenings. There will be crafts, games, Bible lessons, snacks, and stories.
Here are the details:
Vacation Bible School – Adventures With The Creator
Monday through Friday, July 19-23, 2010
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Age 4 through 6th grade
Bethel Baptist Fellowship
2304 Voorhies Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Near East 23rd Street on Voorhies Avenue
Carts put out with the garbage. (Photo by Ray Johnson)
By the time you see me, it will most likely be too late. I’ll be gone, gone, gone. Oh, but it’s not just me this time, it’s me and a small-sized pedestrian cart that got stuffed into me. Sure, that little thing is not as sturdy as I am, being more susceptible to breakdowns — but he is still recyclable!
I feel like a piece of garbage. The funny thing is, there’s nothing wrong with me. I have all my wheels about me. But, even if I’m missing a couple of screws, I’m sure it’s easily fixed. What’s wrong with these shoppers? They drag me all the way from my job at Pathmark Supermarket (3785 Nostrand Avenue) and leave here on the street. Who knows how many hands pushed me around since then, and why those hands left me here in front of P.S. 254 (1801 Avenue Y) for garbage pickup?
Why didn’t the Sheepshead Bay Pathmark supermarket pick up when a Good Samaritan tried to call? Let’s hope the New Jersey headquarters can get through to the store manager in time. If not, I might try and convince the driver of this yellow school bus to take me to Boro Park. Life can only be better over there at that school. Just so happens the only Hebrew word I can think of is, “chaim”. It just might be the one word I can utter to save my life!
