From Gene’s Notebook

…and how rare is it, rain, a lot in Brownsville, rain since early Friday, much like snow in the North when cabin-fever hits, especially in early February; here, in early July, with about seven deep weeks of summer to go, the rain is like snow, cabin-fever time …. But I go out: bike and foot, and I see a small piece of the World ….

- José drives around in his pickup, and even with the tailgate down, his barking white dog does not fall out; Jose drives and the dog barks, José and dog, in rain ….

- A rabbit has moved onto the yard, and is fatter than when it arrived; it can visit until mid-August when the gardens will be resumed; anyone want a rabbit (bunny)?

- Tiny crabs scurry on the bike trail (Linear), and dodge bike tires and runners’ feet; kids have been busting bottles on the trail, scrawling graffiti and even scaring some women walkers and riders; come on, kids, get some exercise like the crabs and live and let live; oh! I have smelled your weed, kids; keep it cool and in the green, and getting greener in the rain, bushes.

- Matamoros in the rain, water gushing in the streets, sewer water mixed in - and be fair - that’s Brownsville, too; I walk in shorts, sandals, cap on, club in hand … wearing a plastic garbage bag; it cost 50 cents, and the vendor wanted to cut some holes for my head and arms, and she did with a scissors; her fifth grade daughter looked on, and I wanted to offer more, so I gave the kid a dollar - I thanked them - and stayed dry, and waters swirled, and I thought of hundreds of pictures of poor people wading in tropical lands’ cities after huge rains …. Old issue …. Me, privileged, choosing to walk in the filthy water, some foolish attempt at identity, with whom, with what? I did look in a store-window, and I saw a man with a club, wearing the garbage bag …he was old, wearing glasses, and it was me!