I just don't get it. The other afternoon I am out running some errands. As I approach a stop sign I notice a woman walking down the sidewalk. So, instead of pulling all the way up to the cross walk and stop sign I lag back an extra few feet to give this woman on foot the right of way to cross in front of my car.
She steps off the curb and into the street and hesitates just before she steps in front of my car and I smile and make eye contact with her trying to assure her that I see her so she doesn't think I am going to pull forward and run her over.
She takes a few more steps and stops directly in front of my car and spins around and faces the hood of my car with fists clutched and begins screaming and swearing at me, her arms are flying in the air as she is cussing and she draws her fist back as if she is going to punch my car.
Then just as fast, she stops and turns back around lets out a huge belly laugh and continues on her way down the street doing what appears to be a victory dance down the side walk still laughing out loud.
Why does it seem our area has more than its fair share of crazy people? Is it because of having mental health services like Kettler and Chestnut? If so, the treatments they are using ARE NOT WORKING!
If the state were to hold a contest and name it the "Find a Nutbag Challenge" all you would have to do is drive the streets of Granite City, Pontoon Beach and Madison and take a look around at the amount of people walking the streets, sitting at bus stops or hanging out in Quick Trip and you could easily win the challenge. My guess is about 1 in 5 would be certifiably insane.
I wish there was a better treatment/cure for the mentally ill and I don't want to see anyone suffer with any kind of illness, mental or other wise. I also think that facilities and services that attract these people should not be in the heart of the city and should be located on the outskirts of town and near or on a bus route.
on July 24, 2014, 3:11 pm