Memento Mori

Memorials to someone's passing are found, temporarily or otherwise, throughout my old neighbourhood. Dufferin Grove contains trees planted with dedications to loved one and an entire walking path (for a bicycle accident victim) dotted with reflexology stones. More sadly, a ghost bike also commemorated another bicycle victim who was hit by a truck. The local community also wrote a tribute when Mr. Siddiqi of Vena's Roti died over the Holidays. During my sublet, a long-time Portuguese Bar (Bloor Bar Cafe/Billiard) was closed because the owner passed away at a young 62. His family kept a photo and an obituary in the window.

On Sunday, when I went to the library at Dufferin and Bloor, I was reminded that not all memorials come from the living. Unfortunately, some are the forgotten relics of a quiet life. There have been numerous unhouse folks in the neighbour over the years. Some come and go such as the homeless encampments or visitors to the women's shelter Sistering. Others stay around for years like the old panhandler who wished everyone a happy life.

There was a woman, in her late 50s or early 60s, who hung around that corner. She never asked for change or talked very much. She did accumulate thing over the years until it grew to 2 shopping carts full of stuff. But they were neatly packed and tied down with plastic tarps. After my arrival in early January, when I saw them alone on the sidewalk, I was worried. But I thought (half-heartedly) that, with the snow and ice frozen solid around the carts, she was still nearby and that it was more convenient to leave them there. After all, many people left their parked cars buried in the snow for weeks this winter.

But the snow has finally melted for good for several days. So when I saw that the carts haven't moved, I felt sad. I'm hoping she is somewhere safer, perhaps living in a permanent home, and had already taken personal items with her. But those carts may be the last reminder of someone who left this world unnoticed and unmourned.