The Cat Man and the Inner city

We live just four blocks from the Arizona Temple. It is one of the most visited spots in Arizona.  Unfortunately it is no longer the best part of Mesa, which brings me to the cat man. Some months ago at the end of our street on Horne a man set up shop feeding cats. He arrives before dawn and stays for hours feeding cats from the neighborhood. He appears to check them off on a list he keeps and carefully feeds and holds each cat till he is satisfied that all have been accounted for. The cat man is very thin wears a safari hat, cargo pants, and has plastic bags tied all over his bike. I am told he is well educated but for some reason has dropped out of mainstream society.

 

We also have Dizzy who has haunted Main Street for decades now. He carries a cross and a bible, is usually listening to music and does dances and makes unusual hand gestures as he performs crossing the intersections mostly at Stapley and Main. He is getting older and gaining weigh but still keeps up a fairy vigorous pace. Years ago I saw him dancing at Mesa Drive and Main with what appeared to be a just a large diaper on. I called the police.

 

We also used to have a long legged prostitute that patrolled Horne between Main and Brown. She is missing this year.

 

There is of course Bob of Third Street. Bob has more jokes and the greatest sense of humor of anyone I know.  He works for Ellsworth and serves many of the widows in the area mowing their lawns and taking out their trash.

 

Such is the flavor and texture of the inner city.