Walnut, CA has to be the crappiest city in this country. I remember moving here when I was 7 years old, dreaming from my bedroom window as I looked upon miles after miles of barren wasteland that one day there would be a mall the size of castle smack dab in the middle of it for me to frolic in during my upcoming materialistic teenage years. My dreams were crushed when I matured and realized that Walnut is generally characterized as a city full of hardworking immigrants that would rather spend their cash elsewhere, namely Brea and West Covina (and if they were feeling cheap, La Puente) instead of allowing Walnut to economically flourish.
Then there was this light, albeit quite faint, at the end of the economic tunnel. There was talks of actually building a Target. I restructured my dreams, replacing the image of myself shopping in high-end stores like Bebe to rummaging through piles of Mossimo clothes on clearance aisles, battling it out with some fat woman that is vying for the same deals. I was still satisfied, particularly by the thought of saving a penny or two in my shopping needs while also letting out some of my aggression against out budget shoppers. But then that dream was crushed too and I was back at square one all over again. All the arguments from the majority of the residents was that businesses would attract crime, and that is a reasonable assumption considering the crowds of homeless punks that hang outside of such stores, either panhandling or smoking cigarettes. Oh wait, my bad, that's Walmart.
Anyways, unfortunately Walnut decided to lift its ban against, well any, commercial building when I decided to leave for college. But by that time I matured some more and became anti-corporation, amongst my list of reasons why include the fact that they treat their employees like crap (and I say that from personal experience), their crap clothes are usually produced in sweat shops with poor ventilation, and I can't stand the elevator music most of them play. As my hatred towards such companies deepened, the stores went up one-by-one. Walnut now boasts a Kohls, Famous Footwear, and Bed Bath and Beyond. Man, I sure do wish I was a teenager at such booming time.
What I do like is the new 24 Hour Fitness. As you don't know already, I've become a fitness fanatic, and the thought of varying up my long boring nights during my visits home with an occasional workout piqued my interests. This basically means that I'm there all the time. However, I'm surprised that Walnut would even allow a 24 hour business, besides the Donut Tree which is granted the 24 hour privilege for obvious reasons (damn pigs!), since its residents are so "crime conscience."
Look at tonight for example. The clock struck 1:30 am and after watching Oprah's new interview with Whitney Houston, I found myself bored. So I threw on my workout clothes and went on over to the gym. I parked in a spot moderately close to the gym entrance, even though the lot was a paltry 5% full, and went in for my work out. I exited the gym at 2:30 am and as I was walking to my car, I saw that this red truck was parked right next to it. I then saw shadows moving inside the truck.
I am one of the lucky few that has attended a Women's Self Defense class. (All you that laughed at me before, look who's laughing now!) I used the clever technique of lodging my keys in between my knuckles so if I were to get approached, one quick jab could blind the assailant for life. I was looking forward to it. I was already pumped from my workout.
But once I reached my side of the vehicle, I smelled the sweet and evil smell of marijuana emanating from the car and heard the accompanying coughing. I looked at the punks inside the red truck and stared for a second. What idiots. They stared back. The paranoia had set in at the right time. I kept staring as I reached for the phone, pretending to call someone. I started the car and pulled back, and made myself look like I was reading off their license plate number.
Man, the minute I drove off, the punks got the hell out of there like bats out of... well, hell. They almost popped a wheelie as they were turning out of the parking lot! That was awesome. No one smokes the reefer on my turf! Only cigarettes please. I hope that will teach them to think twice if they ever attempt to sully the reputation of 24 Hour Fitness ever again by smoking marijuana in its parking lot. And maybe next time, I'll also think twice before I freak a paranoid stoner out enough to have them hit the road under the influence of a controlled substance. See, Walnut residents, 24 hour businesses effect everyone. But please don't close down the 24 Hour Fitness.
No comments:
Post a Comment