Just as soon as I think I can't be anymore of a cynic, something always comes along to remind me to look at things in a different light. Anyone else have that happen? I left the shop late tonight, it was dark and misting off the ocean. Cold. Well, mid 60s, but cold for being on the backside of summer in FL. I stopped at a corner store to get some gas and smokes and this guy was in front of me getting a 4 pack of steel reserve tallboys. Backpack, ragged out clothes, house paint on his elbow, and a cane. He was maybe 40 something but his leg was all fucked up from an accident or something. He put up his cane and hobbled to the counter, the chick rings up one of the beers and it comes to like $1.25. The guy is standing there with 1 dollar bill and a bunch of change and this is what struck me about the whole thing.. he said that can't be right, and she said oh you're right and redid it so it came up to $3.50 for all 4. Dude doesn't have a pot to piss in and still honest. So I left to go back to the gas pump and he was hobbling in the rain to the side of the building to have a beer. Suddenly I was feeling like a piece of shit for not being more thankful for where I am in life. I almost walked over and gave him some money but the guy was hellbent on making it himself and I didn't want to disrespect that. I know when I was homeless I didn't want any help. But damn. That really put some things into perspective.
I think that is impressive! So many people want to judge those that are homeless; but I feel like except for grace that could be me too. When I was cooking in a diner sometimes someone would come in and offer to do some work for some food. I always found (a little) something for them to do, and would feed them more than the 1 hot dog they usually asked for. Meeting people like that is humbling to me.
Homeless people are some of the smartest people out there. I am sure a lot of them know what is really going on in our world and just choose not to be a part of it.
Great story..there is a lot of things the world can take away and one of them they cannot take is ones integrity..he may not be getting his payback now, but will someday.
Most homeless people I met were either fucked up by drugs or whatever other addiction they had or they were homeless because of circumstances and not by choice. I am sure a very, very, very small percentage 'know what is really going on in our world' and choose to be homeless.
Part of the problem with some homeless is that they get caught up in a certain kind of subculture.After a while of living on the streets,interspersed with occasional couch-surfing etc,the idea of getting secure accommodation,which requires paying bills,care of the self and being beholden to one fixed place of abode,can become problematic.I am not suggesting the homeless choose and like their lifestyle,just that unfortunately it can become familiar to them,and can be hard to escape even if they are offered shelter and accommodation.
Well yeah, it kind of depends how you interpret homelessness. I was homeless for a long time, but I travelled the world and paid for lodging most every night and ate in restaurants most days.
I agree completely. And I can't believe some dumbass thumbed down that post of yours, not that it matters but really? A lot of them are severely mentally ill also. Thing is this is the first time something like this happened to me. Growing up in DC you get desensitized because there are hoards of them begging and you just walk on by because there are too many to help. Down here most of them are drunks and fucked up on whatever they can find, always coming up and asking for a smoke or some story about needing a dollar to get to the train station. I sometimes give them a cigarette but have been an asshole and told them to go get a job also. This guy though, there was something different. He had his pride, he was going to pay for his own damn beer and make it on his own. I just have a lot of respect for that.
