A Living Magazine - Day 137 - Wallking in Memphis

This will be mostly pictures, as I worked all day to try catching up. 

Thanks for your reads and shares!

I would also like to thank my growing Russian readership for checking in each day. Beside the American readers, Russia reads more than all other countries combined. It honors me very much to have your attention. I'll bet this is an interesting angle on the United States? Please leave a comment if you'd like. I'd love to hear from you. And send me friend requests at Facebook--try "Alex Wall (Chuck Wall) to get to the right guy!

Someday, maybe there could be an IWALLK Russia?

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The night went quickly. I had very vivid dreams, some of which I will try to describe in later posts.

When I awoke, it was overcast and it looked like there would be rain later on this day. Under the daylight, the place I'd chosen was alive with birds singing and plenty of mosquitoes buzzing. There were two things I'd been meaning to do for quite some time. One was to fix the strap on my very scratched glasses. I hadn't been using them very much since it broke, and even though they are so distorted, they are all I have in order to see street signs, etc... 

Next, I had a broken zipper fly on my pants ever since Spokane. I had no idea how to fix a zipper and had contemplated stitching in velcro, or making a buttonhole and sewing in a button. But, on this morning it came to me. All I had to do was cut through the zipper parts at the base on either side, then remove the clasp, gently slip it back on, and then melt the bases together with my lighter. Worked like a charm...

I packed up and headed west along Brooks. Some sun broke through. The high humidity and rising temperature was a bit overwhelming. I was used to the dry heat of the West, or the cold clamminess of the northern Midwest...

This town is stuffed to the hilt with trash,

but still it is not as bad as some places in New England.

This was interesting.

I went to the McDonald's at the corner of Brooks and 3rd and touched base with people on Facebook, also transferring some pictures from the camera to the laptop, and then processing them. When I'd used up my one hour of Wi-fi there, I continued north on 3rd, catching a bus ($1.75/ride) to the post office, where I'd had a dietary supplement sent via General Delivery. I picked it up and continued on walking toward the downtown...

Memphis Post Office.

Not much of a skyline here. There are about three tall buildings.

This is a variety of bindweed I'd never seen before. It had tiny white trumpets.

When I reached Beale Street, I was overcome with the spirit of the city...maybe it is more of a soul? In any event, the thought of going straight to work on posts dissolved, and I found myself almost involuntarily snapping pictures. for the most part they are self explanatory...

Along the way, I met Mario, a homeless veteran, staying at the Mission with his daughter. We talked for a while and he told me about his experiences in the US Navy, having served between 1980 and 1992. He mentioned going to Panama when the US invaded to remove Noriega. I asked him what he thought about that action. He said he didn't have an opinion back then. He just went where they told him to go. There, his actions earned him a promotion to Medic. Later, he says he, "...put a lot of Marines into boxes...an awful lot." I was almost completely out of money, but I felt compelled to give him my last three dollar bills, without him asking; though I think he would have asked. I told him I honored his service. He thanked me...

Mario.

Jesus doesn't need you to read the Bible. He needs you to put

Love into Action, and give to others, or so he told me.

The intersection of Beale and the recently named (after King's death), BB King Boulevard.

William Christopher Handy--Father of the Blues.

I remember learning the Blues with my dad over thirty years ago.

Late night father and son jams.

I love the "Open... 'till", and the upside down no smoking sign.

I guess as long as the smoke goes up, you're all set.

Three Kings: Martin Luther, Jr., BB, and of course, Elvis.

Locals complain that he looks to thin. But they love their Elvis.

The famous Orpheum Theater.

Some blurry guy.

I was thirsty and hungry, and headed down Main Street, where I saw The Green Beetle. I had enough for a beer, and a meal later. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by this very friendly guy...

Simon Gordon, General Manager of Downtown Office and Storage--U-Haul. He was very interested in my project. We seemed to have the same kind of philosophy about things. He told me about how he is helping out a local guy who he employs. He got him off the street, and helped him find shelter. I planned to meet him the next day at his business.

I worked an embarrassingly long time there, thanks to the other great guy I met, Phil, the server and bartender, who let me use the Wi-fi and gave me a break on a meal...

Phil--Server and Bartender at the Green Beetle (est. 1939).

Best hamburger I've ever had: Bacon, Black and Tiger Blue Burger--Blackened seasoning, bleu cheese & 2 slices of bacon served on a honey wheat cranberry bun...

Lasted my more than 12 hours! Thanks, Phil!

[Check out the Menu.]

I did as much as I could do online, and then headed back to the camp spot...

Had to stop by and drool over the Gibson Guitar headquarters...

I scrounged change out of my backpack and took the bus once I got past the post office on 3rd, and rode it to the McDonald's at the corner of Brooks, then walked back up Brooks to my sleep spot. I assemble the tent just in time for the sky to open up, and pour a drenching rain down, in the warm humid air, all night. I stayed  pretty dry, but I kept an eye on every aspect of the tarp/fly to make sure it didn't touch the tent. It was a long night, but I got a preety good amount of sleep--filled with more dreams.