Sunday, March 29, 2009

What it's like

Last Sunday was a really nice day outside, a rarity here in March. So I decided to run to the ATM grab some cash and hit the carwash. In order to get to the bank I had to go through a rather busy intersection. That’s where I saw a sight that has become more frequent in these trying economic times. Standing there in silence with a sign that read “will work for food for my family, need food, formula and diapers.

Of course I didn’t hit the bank yet, and didn’t have a nickel to my name, so all I could do is give him an empathic glance. Seeing him standing on that corner humbled me. See I’ve been bitching about how I may have to teach a different grade next year due to budget cuts and too many parents running like hell from this state and dragging their kids along with them.

I’ve been so caught up in my own pity party and have forgotten that I should be grateful even to have a job in this economy. Seeing this husband, and father standing on the corner humbly reminded me to count my blessings.

So I zipped over to the bank took out some bills with the intention of slipping him
a few bucks. But as I made my way back he was already gone. I looked up and down the intersection but there was no sign of him.

Maybe someone picked him up to do some work, or maybe he just gave up and went home. I guess I’ll never know for sure. But I have wondered in the days that have followed if he feels defeated, if he and his wife went to bed hungry so that the kids could eat. If the baby woke up hungry in the middle of the night, and if its cries were quieted with a warm bottle or if its tiny stomach went without. Sometimes I wonder if it's a test of my level of compassion for my fellow man....Yeah I’m definitely counting my blessings more.

6 comments:

  1. Yea that really blows for some people. There is a homeless man who lives in the shopping plaza by my house in the parking lot. Just about every week the cops are making him leave and take all his stuff across the street for no apparent reason. This guy is a crippled war veteran who has to use a walker to stand up and these asshole cops have to bust his balls when he's not bothering anybody. What I'm trying to get across here is that it's bad enough that we have such a big homeless problem in the US but why do others have to kick these people while they're down?

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  2. I have been jobless, homeless, and pennyless.
    Thank you for the huge display of compassion. Not all the people out of work are panhandlers.

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  3. Do teachers really do this? Yikes.

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  4. This comment was supposed to go under "What would your Momma think".

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  5. del or alice
    thanks for the comment, yes not all jobless and homeless are panhandlers some are just scared shitless how to provide for their family that they will do what they need to in order to put food on the table and provide for their family

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  6. @Doug
    I hear you man, seriously there are more things for the cops to do than to bust the chops of someone just trying to survive

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