pls dont take this as a humble brag.
Last edited Mon Mar 18, 2024, 02:29 PM - Edit history (1)
but i had the best convo w a homeless man this morning.
i never used to give money to the homeless, cuz i’m the daughter of an alcoholic. didnt want to b an enabler. a former bf changed that. he’s someone who collects winter coats, makes care packages, and goes out in the middle of the night when it gets below zero. so, i changed my ways.
i started passing out a dollar or 2, but i’m a lucky sucker, and i bumped that up to fivers. and a touch, a pat on the shoulder, a touch of the hand. and a take care, or stay warm.
i popped into a 7-11 for smokes, and gave the guy a 5 on my way out. but i was having a truly shitty morning, and as i sat in my car i thought, i cd use a hug. i wonder if he cd. turns out, he was happy to have 1. hugs r my super power and but they’re rare in my life these days.
we started talking, and he said he was a vet w a tbi. he says he has seizures, and i tend to believe him cuz he mentioned a med that is used to treat them. (i also had a tbi, as a kid as did my youngest. my seizures went away, kiddo’s have been tough to treat.) maybe none of that is true. i dont doubt it cuz he’s homeless, but cuz he’s a man. (no offense to honest men, but…)
i was so outraged that this cd b happening, i gave him a $20. he threw his cup away.
made.my.day.
we ended up chatting for a while. turns out we’re both extremely irish. we swapped a couple stories about that.
i told him to contact jan schakowsky, and how to do that.
i hope i bump into him again. i feel like i made a good friend.
my local npr station used to have a regular during their fund drives that always said- give til it feels good. this felt so good.
i highly rec.
dont pat me on the back. i’m so lucky, and i shd do more.
do try it yourself, tho. turned a shitty day on it’s head.
then i came here and saw tsf cant make his bond. i feel like i’m on a beach in hawaii, even tho it’s cold, grey and starting to snow here.
eta- said bf is a trumpkin, btw. met in 15 when the idea of tsf in the wh was a joke. we rarely talked politics, and when we talked issues we agreed across the board. lest u think they’re all rotten to the core.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Rec
back atcha
We can't help everyone, but we can try to reach out to just one. And you did.
I used to pass a man who was out early panhandling each morning--usually at the intersection of Broadway and 8th Avenue or so in Denver. He had a pleasant demeanor but what got me each time (and I stopped most days to give him what I had) was his FBI sign (in big letters). Once you got a little closer, underneath the "FBI" was "flat broke Indian" (and he actually was Native American). Well, anyone with that sense of humor draws me in. He too was a hard-on-his-luck Veteran and I like to think he might have gotten over the financial devastation he'd experienced (and other problems) and was back on his feet. But a more "cup half-full" and humorous person you'd be hard-pressed to meet.
May all those seeking help find their caring person(s). 
Here's a well deserved hug
It is a very good feeling to help another human being.. we're not here for long.
The world needs about a million more mopinkos.
