feeding the less fortunate

terry's car got towed this morning. as we were walking to the impound lot--located handily underneath I-83, right next to where the homeless people roost--i thought, well, you're really not a true baltimorian until you've had your car towed. next to the money the city collects in parking tickets, it's baltimore's biggest source of revenue. actually, it might equal the amount garnered by the new, cheap as shit (thanks, david sedaris) round-the-clock "E-Z Park" machines. the point is, towing is big business for baltimore city, and this morning it was t's turn to get screwed.

t. paid the $207 the city charges to get your car out of hock, and the shockingly friendly woman behind the bulletproof glass smiled and said, "you can just go get in your car. i'll open the gate fuh' ya when you come 'round." we found the pontiac and walked toward it; i got out my new digital camera and took a picture. "you're taking a picture of this?" terry asked. "yeah. i'm doing my best to document my shitty baltimore experience, because no one is ever going to believe it after i move."

i saw the woman behind the bulletproof glass watching out her window, waiting for us to drive up so she could lift the gate; as we drove past her, we waved. instead of waving back, she sassily pointed at us, her shiny manicure glinting off her yellow gold bracelets. "now that," i said, "is what i wish i could get on film. that's true baltimore right there." it's a little bit like being on safari in africa--you just can't ever get them to hold still long enough to get your camera out.