Okay, so Saturday, late January 2020 in the before time, before the fire

is before the crazy glorious open California day walking Lake Merritt. I see this beautiful couple

they're pushing a baby stroller they're so striking the baby is so gorgeous with the

chubby arms and legs. I stop them. I tell the proud parents congratulations

juicy baby smiles up at me waves that arms before they continue on the sidewalk toward the

farmers market. I'm walking right behind them going the same direction but I live just a block

away so I know this path the rhythm the vibe the pulse and my spidey sense starts tingling I stop

look around here mumbling cursing a woman up ahead a few paces near the beautiful couple

disturbed wild-eyed now she's arguing with invisible phantoms gripping a dirty bottle of yellow liquid

that is not lemonade no and I see it like a dark vision I see it in excruciating microscopic

detail each and everything about to happen like it has already occurred but I cannot move fast

enough when she shouts flames the bottle a spray of waste erupting into the air the couple screams

the woman screams I scream I'm regardless found this rains down souting this family and their

beautiful baby girl the woman tackles in deep light and I don't know how to help these people

this little family I don't I don't even understand that this scene will replay itself time and time

again in my memory as the most perfect metaphor for 2020 because no matter who you thought you were

or what you thought you were going this year those plans changed but even as we stand closed soaked

and filled baby squall and even now we can foresee a better future right over the bin at the

farmer's market if right over there it's over there so today before we take that step forward

together we'll look back snap judgment proudly presents upended

ok so a little while back we did a story called zoo Nebraska story about a tragedy

four chimpanzees escaped from a small town zoo and three of them were killed with the survivor

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