Dear Powers that Be,
Haven’t you noticed that things here, in and around Motown, are a bit rough. The industry that made Motown what it is has had more than a few difficulties. Plants are closing left and right. Every other house is up for sale or abandoned. Every Saturday on my way to the college class I teach, I notice all of the “For Rent,” “For Lease,” and “For Sale” signs on all of the office buildings that line Telegraph road. Our schools can barely keep their doors open. Pretty soon pencils and textbooks will be hot commodities.
If that’s not enough, our professional football team have been about as fierce as kittens for the better part of my life, and local baseball heroes are leaving for greener and more lucrative pastures. I understand that it’s about money and…well…that’s one thing that’s not flowing so freely around this state anymore.
I was wondering if perhaps you could cut us some slack and forgo winter this year. Perhaps, we could get some sunny California weather instead of this bitter cold that makes my ears freeze every time I load my brood into the car. I know you’ll probably ask why I don’t leave like the baseball heroes, the jobs and the money. It’s complicated, really. I was born here. Detroit is in my blood. It’s where I spent summers hanging out at Metro Beach or going to ethnic festivals in Hart Plaza. It’s easy to take one look at us here and cast us off like we’re too far gone already, but we have more than meets the eye. Grit, resolve, shoulders of steel, are just a bit of what I’ve seen. People who don’t have anything are rallying to help people who have even less than that.
I guess it is asking a bit much to shed a little sunshine here. On second thought, yes it’s freakin’ cold here, but I’ll deal with it. After all, in a few short months things will be green again, and then they’ll turn again. The little Japanese maple outside my window will turn deep red again. Perhaps, the thought of all of that is enough. Thanks anyway.
M.O.M.
