Today on my way home, I ran into two homeless men. One of them had forgotten his newly purchased propane tanks while he switching buses. I initially overheard the conversation he and the driver were having as I boarded the bus. They asked if the other bus could be stopped and his tanks recovered before some else took them for themselves. He said that he had spent $20 on the four tanks, twenty dollars that he cannot afford to lose.
Our conversation began when I accidentally interrupted him as he told the other homeless man, for at least the fourth time, that he wasn't going to talk to anyone on the bus ever again - he just gets distracted to easily. The other man while sympathetic insisted that it was not his fault, a point that all three of us silently knew. Despite my stupidly comforting "don't beat yourself up" and "everyone forgets things," he was needless to say still bummed. But what honestly can one say to a man who now could freeze tonight. However, he manged to still laugh and talk to me for the remainder of my trip. They described to me of the size of their tents and how in their camp all of the homeless live in a circle with a community camp fire at the center.
The other man was more talkative than the guy worrying about how he would stay warm this evening. He told me that 'he, they have to keep living keep fighting'. That they aren't going to just give up and die. He told me that one day he'd get his life back together, and to never if I could help it to not let my life fall apart.
The other man told me of how he has watched the neighborhoods fall apart around him. He told me that in thirty years when I am fifty I will get to see how the neighborhood has changed just as he has. I reminded him that he said he was a fighter and that 80 isn't that old, he warmly responded with god bless. Not the stereotypical give-me-money god bless that many might associate with the homeless but a sincere thank you. I hope he makes it to 80.
They took turns telling me quite a few stories and answering some questions on my 30 minute ride home. One of story in particular, I think many of us who've been camping can relate to. The other man told me that his new boots, that I later found out were given to him by a church had been burnt up. They melted as he was warming his feet by the fire. I must say that I have done the same to a couple tennis shoes over the years. The sakes were much lower in my case but its unfortunate none the less.
But during the conversation about their life style from "bird-bath" showers to tent placement, they felt is necessary to tell me that "Its not as bad as everyone thinks..." They have hope. They assured me they they live normal lives; they just don't have a roof, but in my opinion that just is a really big just.
I wish them the best. And I hope with our help these men can continue to fight to survive.
Our conversation began when I accidentally interrupted him as he told the other homeless man, for at least the fourth time, that he wasn't going to talk to anyone on the bus ever again - he just gets distracted to easily. The other man while sympathetic insisted that it was not his fault, a point that all three of us silently knew. Despite my stupidly comforting "don't beat yourself up" and "everyone forgets things," he was needless to say still bummed. But what honestly can one say to a man who now could freeze tonight. However, he manged to still laugh and talk to me for the remainder of my trip. They described to me of the size of their tents and how in their camp all of the homeless live in a circle with a community camp fire at the center.
The other man was more talkative than the guy worrying about how he would stay warm this evening. He told me that 'he, they have to keep living keep fighting'. That they aren't going to just give up and die. He told me that one day he'd get his life back together, and to never if I could help it to not let my life fall apart.
The other man told me of how he has watched the neighborhoods fall apart around him. He told me that in thirty years when I am fifty I will get to see how the neighborhood has changed just as he has. I reminded him that he said he was a fighter and that 80 isn't that old, he warmly responded with god bless. Not the stereotypical give-me-money god bless that many might associate with the homeless but a sincere thank you. I hope he makes it to 80.
They took turns telling me quite a few stories and answering some questions on my 30 minute ride home. One of story in particular, I think many of us who've been camping can relate to. The other man told me that his new boots, that I later found out were given to him by a church had been burnt up. They melted as he was warming his feet by the fire. I must say that I have done the same to a couple tennis shoes over the years. The sakes were much lower in my case but its unfortunate none the less.
But during the conversation about their life style from "bird-bath" showers to tent placement, they felt is necessary to tell me that "Its not as bad as everyone thinks..." They have hope. They assured me they they live normal lives; they just don't have a roof, but in my opinion that just is a really big just.
I wish them the best. And I hope with our help these men can continue to fight to survive.
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