I used to go visit kiddo's at the school across from Pamlico raceway. It was pretty scary, and a janitor told me to never leave "after hours" because I might get shot. By a student. It was an elementary school, if I'm recalling correctly.
Some of the "instruction" was pretty, ahem, interesting a well. That's how I ended up putting my kiddo in a private Catholic school... That school was his catchment area. I think I saw like 3 kids there that weren't black, the entire time. Also, given the "instruction," well there was no way... I would have sold blood plasma if I needed to, although I did have fun wandering around the Hopkins area and finding interesting places.... My particular site at Hopkins was "off" their grounds and I wasn't really freaked out until Spring arrived and everyone vacated the abandoned buildings in my area... It was like a roach swarm.
My methadone clients were pretty rough but they never really scared me, it was the addicts I didn't know that were scary, but fortunately by then I had a few clients who were willing to walk me to my car if it got late. They were definitely better than Security.
I can't imagine Baltimore has gotten worse, but I can't imagine it being better. I loved my Baltimore house, even though dead bodies were routinely dumped in the park across the street from my house, well, we ventured there during the daytime.
I will say living where I did and working where I did, I never found the Wire that compelling. I was more like "Meh, seen it, done it...."
I will say, I will take a house in a "poor" neighborhood than a "condo" in a rich one, which were basically my two choices. My neighbors were all actually awesome. They loved us despite our pale hue because I bought the neighborhood "House of Ill repute" and rehabbed it. My son's best friend was also about 2 years older with ADHD and lived next door. I finally made my husband teach him how to punch BACK (his mom was in agreement, LOL). But, meh, with the right attitude, nothing is really that terrifying.
Some family members didn't care to join us. LOL. My BIL once drove over to our house, had a car breakdown, then a LIFE meltdown. You just blend into the scenery after a while. I will say the places I've lived have been really eye opening (good and bad) but (aside from riots) I kinda miss my old abode.
Anna
