These Streets

“You belong to the streets”

“The streets are calling”

“I have officially left the streets”

These are some of the common phrases associated with the streets. The first order of business is to clarify that I am currently not on these streets. Believe it or not, I don’t think I have ever been on the streets. So, I am writing this piece looking at the streets from a safe balcony, sipping some red wine. Admiring all the chaos from a distance. Envying all the glam and drama. Thankful to avoid the heartbreaks and suffering. And when I get off my balcony onto the streets, I make sure to have my favorite t-shirt on. Written in bold both at the front and back.

“This one is taken! Unfortunately. You can look but do not touch”

Now, don’t get me wrong. The streets excite me from time to time. I do have my fair share of what-if moments.

The streets are full of both new and old. Big and small in whatever varieties you think of. Thick and thin. White, black and yellow, or whatever shade you prefer. And yes, even for those off the streets, these can sometimes be such a sight to behold. Just because I have my S-class parked at home. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t admire a G-wagon occasionally. But at the end of the day it’s important I make it just that. Admiration. Even for my S-class, new models are coming up every year. But I have to remind myself how hard I worked for my current model. Why it works just fine for me, how it has taught me and I have learned it. How driving it, isn’t complicated. A new machine would mean figuring out a whole lot of new buttons. And how it likes to be driven. Yeah, something is exciting about a zero mileage. But there is something even better about a vehicle that knows the road.

The streets are full of new adventures. Mistakes to be made, some regrettable some worth making. And this can make them very exciting to someone walking in for the first time. But the same streets are vast and this according to me makes them unpredictable and dangerous. I dare you to show me a comprehensive guide. A Google Maps of some sort, that guides you safely through the streets. Show me the safest sides and the more dangerous sides. Show me the street markings that make them easily navigable.

There is always something exciting about meeting someone new. Making a new connection, learning something new. Experiencing a different human and their way of seeing things. You get to see the world under a different set of eyes. You get to share in their beliefs. That’s a different kind of high. But it doesn’t always go well. You don’t always meet the perfect stranger. I believe no stranger is perfect. At least not until you get to know them. At this point, they are no longer strangers. New people don’t always mean new and amazing experiences.

Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself? Though it is your first encounter.

“I never want to meet this nuisance ever again”

As much as the streets are filled with lots of good possibilities. There are also bad experiences in equal measure if not more. The uncertainties, the amount of time you can waste in such of perfection.

The most ironical thing to me about these streets. It’s where the majority of the people are, but they can be the loneliest of spaces. You will commonly hear conversations such as…

“There is no way you are single”

“You must have girls queuing up for you”

And the recipients of these words will be the loneliest people. Distrust runs the streets, the fear of being lied to. Taken for granted. And worst of all, heartbroken. When we get into the streets, we all know we are out shopping, but most of us seem not to know what exactly we want.

My apologies for being harsh. But, it’s hard sometimes to differentiate the rejects from the unfortunate ones. The dishonest from the truthful ones. The real from the fake. The parasites from the soulmates. That is why I am comfortable on my balcony, with my bottle of wine and my “old s-class” packed in my garage. Who knows, that new zero-mileage G-wagon might just kill me. If not from the thrill of driving a brand-new car, maybe because I haven’t driven it long enough to figure out how well the brakes work. And please don’t get literal with me, I don’t know much about cars but you know what I mean.

Finally, again I am just observing the streets from my balcony and there is a chance I am watching the streets from the wrong side of my building. Where all the muggings happen, and my judgment might be biased. But maybe that’s why my balcony works for me, it is safe, it’s something that works. I know my balcony well. Or maybe it’s just the wine talking. So do tell me in the comments. What side are you watching the streets from or are you down in the streets? How is that working for you? And most importantly, where would you rather be?