I was approached last night in truck stop by a hooker

[TEB]

I stopped get a coffee coming out New England. Slang in trucking culture lot lizard whore this woman approached me. Years ago it was common but today truck stops have really been driving them out. Thirty two years of union freight I’ve never slept in a sleeper berth we run terminal to terminal and stay in hotels when we sleep. I’ve laid my head over steering wheel over years get a nap when I needed one. Make union cash get home to wife and kids , but this young woman approached me and I declined. I am not interested I have wife ,in my mind I felt sorry for her.

I told her I am not interested and joking I said I have day cab that is no sleeping berth. She said I can do you your skinny enough I’m like wow. I asked her how old are you 26 she said I thought our daughters 32 28 24 And our sons 13. Looking at her she had those blisters around her lips I think from smoking crack. I just felt bad for her I just gave her 20$ I said you know go get something to eat. I told my wife I said that bothered me that young lady. A ramble she is our daughters age and fucking her ass away for drug money I wonder where her parents family is it just bothered me. We need a program to treat addiction in this country I’m thinking I’m taking naltrexone for not drinking. And this kid is stuck in this cycle I just felt bad for her.

[FM123]

1. You are a good soul TEB. Sure wish there were more like you in this world.

[Snackshack]

3. I second this.

The world could certainly use my humanity and empathy.

[ailsagirl]

37. Third it!

[Aristus]

2. Thank you for helping her out with some money. That was kind.

I was once approached by a prostitute in the parking lot of a bank, of all places. She seemed a little nervous, and asked me: "Do you want some stress relief tonight?" I don't know what the usual come-on is, but I was instantly struck with the notion that this was not a normal thing with her, that maybe she was someone not in the life, but who had gotten stuck for some money, and needed to get some quick cash.

I politely turned her down and drove off. As I was driving away, I wondered if maybe instead she was an undercover cop or something, trying to bust someone for solicitation. Either way, I was really glad I got out of the encounter clean and dry.

[Ohiogal]

4. You're a compassionate person TEB

Sometimes the sight of such pitiful and desperate lives just won't leave your mind. Don't you wish we could help them all? There really shouldn't be such suffering and hopelessness in the world. I wonder if this young woman was abused or a runaway or some "boy friend" got her hooked on crack.

I remember a long time ago, during the war in Kosovo, I saw a photo in the newspaper of a little boy sitting on the floor of an orphanage, crying, no one there to comfort this poor child. The expression on his face just haunted me. I still remember that picture to this day. He was about the same age as my boys. You just can't shake it sometimes. What a world we live in.

[TEB]

14. Old people babies women

Used work my head in infantry as kid I couldn’t be hard and turn away

[amywalk]

28. I remember seeing those kinds of images from a program about

the Romanian orphanages in the 80’s, I believe.They showed babies, toddlers and older tied to their bassinets and beds. They would rock back and forth trying to comfort themselves. They appeared blank. No crying, just dead eyes and rocking back and forth. They had almost no human touch. It was horrifying.

[democratisphere]

5. Thanks for the kindness you extended to her.

It's horrific that anyone lives in this condition. I wish there was more help and support.

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. Thank you for your act of kindness. It never feels like enough...

but sometimes we do ALL we can.

[radical noodle]

7. Another sad life

Thank you for giving her money to eat. Makes me wonder if you shouldn't have actually bought the food, though.

[efhmc]

25. I keep bags of food or some fruit in my car to give to people

panhandling to cars at intersections, hoping they will get some nourishment. Most seem very happy to get the food.

[radical noodle]

33. I'm sure they are

Too few people are as kind as you.

[mopinko]

8. her parents/family are probably somewhere worried sick.

likely she has used and abused their love and care. stolen from them, conned them, guilt tripped them, refused to leave when the situation became untenable.
families cant do much when someone goes off the deep end.

that is why we have a civil society w a safety net. or we used to anyway. not that it was ever big enough to catch meth heads and turn them around.
imagine if the money spent on stupid war on drugs had been spent on research into mental health and addiction.
or maybe a war on child abuse.

we sure do need to do better.

[samnsara]

9. thank you for being a gentleman and so generous..

...maybe she will find some fatherly advice in your words that will help her in the future.

[soryang]

10. I used to drive a truck too.

I would never give money to someone soliciting, it might be a cop, regardless of my desire to help them. I would ordinarily give money, shower credits and food to panhandlers, but people selling sex, gold or electronic goods or the like in a parking lot, never.

[lunasun]

31. +1 would not open my wallet in front of them . Giving them food is ok . One time some guy told me

I didn't give him enough for a shower from some change I had in my hand when coming out of a place that I gave him as I passed . He yelled in an angry voice
I told him to give it back if he didnt want it
we had a word fight once twice and he gave it back
...what I didn't realize was you could see what all happened through a glass from inside the stop but the sound was muffled

I guess it looked like I was taking the money from a panhandler my friend who was still inside said damn that was hilarious he told me it looked you shook him down people were staring from in line

Oh of course the story got around making fun of me how I shook money off a panhandler
No good deed whatever
I don't mind helping but don't be arguementive yelling at someone giving you money or esp. participating in crimes
don't even look that way
It's like you said too could be a cop then money passes that's it

[soryang]

32. exactly n/t

[CentralMass]

11. You are a good man TEB

[Soxfan58]

12. As you know TEB

You have got to want to quit. But when they are ready, its our duty as a society to help them succeed

[TEB]

13. Not sure

I don’t write the joke I just tell it

[IronLionZion]

15. Her family might be part of the problem

Some folks get started on drugs due to problems at home

[gtar100]

16. This country doesn't care.

Me, me, me. That's enough about me, let's talk about you...and what you can do for me.

Mental health treatment centers? Get a job.
Addiction treatment. Get straight then get a job.
Financial trouble? Get a better job.

That's the extent of conservative, republican solutions. Have I missed anything?

[whathehell]

22. Much of the country does care..

They just don't happen to hold the majority in all three branches of government now.

[efhmc]

24. I think most of us do care but see no way out

or know how to make a difference. I feel so sorry for that young woman. Thanks for giving her food money.

[proglib217]

34. Actually, you left out the Republican great panacea...

Cut taxes.

[genxlib]

17. It's a good thing your reputation precedes you

Otherwise, we might read between the lines on that $20 (wink-wink-nudge-nudge)

But we know you are a good soul.

[Roy Rolling]

18. You did your part and more

You also inspired many who read your words. Responding in the moment and giving in charity---regardless of the personal fault of her condition---is what is asked of each of us.

Be ready to answer the call and do something to make someone's life better after having crossed your path, even if only momentarily.

Good of you to think on your feet.

[marble falls]

19. You're a good soul, TEB. Keep writing....

Give that dog some bacon!

[Victor_c3]

20. You've got a good heart

I haven’t been approached by a lot lizard, but my guess is she is doing what she does out of sheer desperation. I really feel bad for people like that.

Well, I’m 38 and when I see an 18-year-old, I see someone who could be my daughter. I second what you said on that account.

From time to time I have been known to visit establishments that cater to the more refined and cultured men of society (i.e. a gentlemen’s club aka strip club). However it’s purely for the food. I like to say I “go for the chicken wings and then stay for the breasts”. I’m halfway torn between feeling guilty about it and enjoying myself. At least I tip really (really really) good and treat the women who work there with respect. Hey, I appreciate the service and work they do. It takes courage and confidence to be a stripper.

[PatrickforO]

21. Drugs have destroyed so many lives, yet they are the symptom.

In my mind, people seek out things like drugs, or fantasy, or reading, or TV or other forms of entertainment, to escape from the grim, gray reality of our daily lives. My daughter describes her job - and she has a good job that pays well - as a soul-sucking black hole, devoid of any personal meaning.

That is the key. Victor Frankl says we define our sense of purpose as individuals through our love for our families and our devotion to causes greater than ourselves.

If you cannot see a purpose for yourself because your family is not there for you, or you aren't devoted to a cause greater than yourself because you maybe lack the education or the sense of self-efficacy to go out and find something, or maybe you're just apathetic, then you will engage in these addictive behaviors to escape.

The culprit here: capitalism increasingly unrestrained by the Republican party. It creates a grim, Ayn Randian libertarian hell for all but the lucky few 'billionaires.' The rest of us are debt slaves that toil in meaningless jobs that don't pay enough, spend hours commuting and increasingly can't afford decent housing.

Now, that isn't me - I've been incredibly lucky in my life, and do have a strong sense of personal meaning - but it is the personal truth for too many people. Even some here on DU.

[TexasBushwhacker]

29. Have you ever read about the Rat Park experiment?

2 groups of rats. Both had access to a regular water bottle and one that was laced with cocaine, but their living environments were different. One group lived in an essentially barren environment while the other environment was Rat Park - toys, exercise wheels, little boxes for privacy if they wanted it. The Rat Park rats could drink the cocaine water if they wanted, but they had no desire. They got their good feelings from their environments. The rats in the barren environment would drink the cocaine water until they died. It was their only source of enjoyment.

Imagine if we took the money we spend on the WAR ON DRUGS and private prisons and used it to provide rehab for drug users and to improve the communities where drug use was prevalent.

[Rorey]

23. You ARE a kind soul, and that was nice of you.

I'm sorry to say that chances are pretty big that she used the money for drugs.

We have a lot of panhandlers in my town. Hookers are plentiful too, and drug use is rampant. I don't give money to those panhandlers, but I do donate regularly to our food banks and the soup kitchen. That way I know that my money is going toward food rather than for drugs. I'm not telling anyone else what to do, but that's how I choose to handle my giving.

[TlalocW]

26. In college, a friend of mine was driving home from Wichita

To our small hometown 20 miles away. He had worked late at his part time job, and snow was coming down like crazy. He stopped to get a coffee, and a woman asked him for a ride home. Being the nice guy that he is (especially since it was on the way), he gave her a ride and dropped her off at her apartment complex and said good-night. She looked at him quizzically and asked, "Aren't you going to come inside?" My friend is extremely good looking and used to women hitting on him all the time so he didn't think anything of it especially since he still had some miles yet to go and staying awake long enough to get home was his main goal. They said good-night; he watched her get into his apartment safely like a gentleman does, and he continued on his way. He said as soon as he made the turn onto the road that would take him into our hometown, it hit him that he had just ruined the night of a working girl, and he felt bad on many levels - that she was doing that, that he had ruined her making any money that night, etc.

TlalocW

[stevil]

27. You Rock dude, doing the best thing in that situation.

Peace. Also my Blackstar rocks the Strat.

[TEB]

36. Blackstar are awesome

Price and tone

[smirkymonkey]

30. Thanks for your kindness TEB.

You are a good man. I wish there were more people like you in the world.

[CanSocDem]

35. Pulled into a truckstop in Amarillo...

...a while back, looking for some 'green' to ease my trip to Montreal. Parked next to a brother who said on the CB that he could help me if I did him a favor. "NO problem" says I.

The favor he wanted was for me to give his friend, the truck stop hooker, a ride home to OK City. "She's cool, but she has some baggage..." says he, "...four garbage bags full". It was only a few days before Christmas so saying "no" was out of the question.

Deal made, she starts loading her stuff into my truck. "Christmas presents" she said, and once we got going down the road, she started telling me about all her nieces and nephews and showing me the presents she had picked out for them. If you have ever been to a chain truck stop and perused their gift shop, you know all about their over-priced junk.

But this woman was brilliant. Every piece of junk she bought, she turned into a loving thoughtful gift for a niece or nephew. She had been on the road for a couple of weeks and made enough money to overpay for her gifts. She was happy- she was going to be with family for Christmas and she had presents for everyone.


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