Bright Moon, Quiet Night.

I walk along the beach under a bright white full moon, gathering my deepest, darkest thoughts. The thoughts in my head swirl creating silent noise, confusion, congestion, and a daily blur. The group of thoughts I have captured this evening leaves me wondering why the world is the way it is. Why is the city riddled with crime, people killing each other over stupid things? The drugs clouding the purest of people. What has this world come to?

As I feel the warm water roll over my feet, I recall the blissful memories of my childhood. A period in time when you could trust your neighbor. A time when the scent in the air was that of honeysuckle or jasmine, not the pungent odor of a local meth lab burning. The background noise was families enjoying outside time and birds chirping, not the blaring sound of police sirens and helicopters flying over. Where did that era go?

Those were the days that have become a distant memory. Children will never know the bliss and charm the city used to have. They are growing up with bars on their windows, and 17 locks on their doors. They have to peek out the window before running from the house to the car. This has all become the norm for people and they can't sleep without the pop, pop, pop of rapid gunfire in the night.

As I take a break from the walk and lay myself down in the warm sand, I am lost in my thoughts and worries. As I watch the stars above, I can't help but to think will this madness ever stop? Will we ever love thy neighbor again? What will these children of today grow up to be? My heart breaks for them, wondering if they will ever have the chance to be more than a statistic.

The youth of today is tomorrow's future, what will that future be like? Will they go on to be doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, or will they just be another number? Will they become part of the addiction or a lifer that has fallen to crime. Will they just be another statistic? Who knows, this craziness is their norm now. Do they hate it enough to make positive changes?

As I enjoy the last few minutes of my time on the beach lost in these thoughts inside my head. The quiet moments of escape like this are what I live for. These are the moments that keep me grounded, they keep me sane in these trying times.