I’m fond of entropy, the sight of buildings decaying, old facades, rusting metal, or neon signs. When I first moved to Seattle, I used to ride my bike through the intersection where this renovation is taking place, past drug dealers and the needle exchange and a now and then a tent revival and a place where you could buy a vibrant purple suit with wide lapels and hey, why not go with the shiny two tone shoes, while you’re at it. The wig store is still there, but the place that used to be a strip joint is now a Made in Seattle store and the boarded up furniture place is a Columbia Sportswear store. When you watch your city change, it is easy to forget what used to be, that your favorite coffee house is now a leasing office for expensive apartments, that the pawn shop where that first, best, ukulele originated is a high end stationary store. It’s good to look up and see what used to be, even while it’s going away.
I don’t know this particular intersection, but yes, I was struck by just how “perfect” so much of downtown Seattle was. I was simultaneously drawn to it and repelled by it. Strange that. At least I got to eat a donut. That’s always important.