Detroit is perceived several different ways. I'm not going to spend time describing all of what people think, because I'm sure several things flooded into your mind the moment I said Detroit. You have a picture of what you presume is Detroit.
I will try to paint you a more true, more humane picture of what it feels like to be in Detroit.
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I never used to get my nails done. It costs too money and they make it difficult to put my contacts in. But sometimes an hour or so at the nail salon is the only way to catch up with my best friend.
The first time my friend and I sat down and got our nails done my friend rattled on and on about her life; boys, school, her family, the usual. We were there for hours and we didn't mind it because we got to talk freely and our nails looked amazing. After we were done, the nail tech said "You're best friends, right?" He smiled when we explained the story of how we became friends and he just smiled real big and said "You both are so happy." This is true, being around my friend does make me happy, but it was something about the way he said it that made me really think how happy someone can make another person.
He became our nail guy, we would talk to him about our lives and he would interject here and there. One day, my friend left the salon before me so I got into a deeper conversation with the nail tech. He said he loves seeing my friend and I together because we remind him of his daughter and her friend when she was younger. His children no longer speak to him for reasons he didn't say, but started tearing up when talking about his family. He loves hearing of our lives and found us so hopeful in comparison to all the rude adults that come into his business. He then started talking about his customers and his business. He owned the business for 20 years and had run into some pretty interesting characters.
He said he only wants to help people feel good since discovering that most people don't think too highly of themselves. He wants people to relax and enjoy getting their manicure or pedicure and feel relaxed when they leave his salon. He's been disappointed lately because people have been so rude to him. They complain about things that don't make sense and would rather sit in silence than communicate with him, which he said "breaks his heart."
One day I was leaving the salon and he said, "Not only do you have beautiful hands, you have a beautiful spirit" this put so much into perspective for me. My nail tech has seen so much throughout his years in business, he's experienced heartache and sadness, but still yearns to see beauty.
I think Detroit is a little like my nail tech.
