Wonder what became of her

sounds like she's got character

Great very short story.

ask her which one is the garage?

Interesting story.

There is an obviously mentally ill lady who rides her bike down to a major street intersection and begs usually every day. I'm wondering how our major snowstorm has curtailed her activities. She always has a backpack on and wears her winter coat OVER it all year long, even when it's 95 out. She lives in subsidized housing and was even mentioned in an article last year about familiar beggars on our valley street corners. She apparently has all sorts of assistance, housing, food, etc, but going to the street corner every day is her "job" of sorts.

Too often, people like this are not seen by society. Thanks for giving her visibility.

Poor thing... I wonder where she is and what she's doing... Thanks for sharing this, Debbie!

Bless her heart

Ahhh. This has been one of my big issues for as long as I can remember and I did a bunch of homeless stories a few years ago, so this really grabs my heart. You captured a lot in so few words. Nice.

Um, I guess I'm not just the nice type.

I am. I'd move. Thanks Reagan...the world needed more homeless people!

Hey way to stand up for her space. You are really nice, I think I would have just looked at her.

I love that your heart sees the dignity and humanity in every person you encounter. I know that this trait makes you an exceptional nurse but it also makes you one of the nicest people I've ever met.

I've been thinking about the homeless lately. You don't see them here often, but I know they must be here somewhere. We have no shelter, no place to get hot meals...just a food pantry, which is struggling to keep the shelves stocked.

I agree with Nippy.

I've been thinking about the homeless lately. You don't see them here often, but I know they must be here somewhere.

You do see them in my city often. Just to make sure I never missed or forgot them, for twenty+ years, I purposely rerouted my drive to work so that I would have to pass either a shelter or a corner where I knew they'd be. I dropped off food, clothes, and cash often, but on days that I had nothing I hoped a smile or eye-to-eye contact made a bit of a difference. So often, people won't even look at the homeless, as though not seeing them makes them not exist.

Thanks for mentioning Regan, Doyle.

SNAP! I'm changing my comment to what Tonia said! That's too cool! Sandy...I see at least five a day. Often more, especially when the weather warms up. It's sad and one of things that always makes me think of Reagan...as does catsup in a child's lunch and a variety of seemingly bizarre and disparate, though actually related things left over from my recollections of that man.

He (probably more accurate to say his puppet masters) is also responsible for stopping social security at age 18 for kids whose parents died. No assistance through college. Many haven't even graduated high school on their 18th birthday, forcing them to apply for an extension in that case.

Yeah. I roll my eyes each time he's referred to as a "great" man.

I hope you didn't step in her swimming pool on the way out of the car.


Seriously, though. The homeless are just as varied a lot as any other group that could be looked at as having something in common with each other. Ask my kids - they both went to school in Boston. It's interesting to hear them talk sometimes about this issue. They have very mixed feelings. There are the famous homeless people - known by everyone by the same name. There are the decent homeless people who you go out of your way to help. Then, there are the scary homeless people who basically attack and are dangerous. And then there are some half-way between, who even my son makes a wide path around because they hound and hound and even when you give them something, they can get very belligerent.

The problem is that there are not enough support services to begin with in this country. There are not enough nets on the way to catch people who need help loooonng before they get to this state. It's a crime. In one of the supposedly richest countries in the world...it's a crime.

You certainly packed a lot of story into very few words, Debbie! Wow, I'm impressed.

It's a crime. In one of the supposedly richest countries in the world...it's a crime.

Amen!

It is a crime. Thank you everyone for reading and commenting. I foresaw an increase in the homeless population when DRG's impacted the mental health care availability in this country years ago. It is a multi- faceted problem that I don't pretend to have answers for. It grieves me though.

Sandy, thank you.

Madame D, if I get too wordy whats important gets lost. :)

Tonia, my eyes filled up when I read your comment.

AMEN, DOYLE!

There used to be places where people in this condition could get help here in California... UNTIL, that is, Reagan became governor -- when he had a new governor's mansion built and, at the same time, turned all of these people out into the street. Then, when he was elected as President, the rest of the nation got to experience the same thing first hand.

She went on to write an article asking for snide comments, here.

Kitteh!
Deb, lovely story, short sweet and to the point.

Why do Republicans seem to hate the poor and helpless so much? Does it remind them of their own flawed humanity? Does it show them that their god does not take care of the sparrow all the time? Do they think that these people somehow deserve to be where they are? That they somehow are tainted, having sinned against a 'god' who is punishing them? I just don't get the 'boot strap' mentality. It seems to be the most un-Jesus like thing ever.

I think it is the "bootstrap" thing Sheryl! They seem to believe the difference between wealthy people and poor people is because poor people are lazy. Naturally, that doesn't jive with a minimum wage worker struggling to make ends meet while using public transportation and shopping at thrift stores...often working very hard being considered lazy by an executive sitting at a desk and making an ocassional decision while driving his company into the dirt of financial obscurity and rushing from his pedicure to his massage after making sure his million dollar "well earned" income is protected by some golden parachute.

Poor people are some of the hardest working people I have ever known...and their labor makes wealthy people wealthy.

And it is the most unChristian thing I can imagine.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

Doyle, you know perfectly well it's the stress and the weight of responsibility the executives are being paid for... If they make a mistake, they will be... Wait. I'll find out and get back to ya...

Deb, You have captured the essence of her dignity in the article. I am finding many of my clients are living month to month with their shelter/housing concerns. I am afraid I will arrive and they will not be there because they can no longer afford to live in their little part of the world and they were ashamed to say so.

Deb:

Your short little snippert of a story engendered quite an interesting comment strand. No matter what city one goes to in the US you'll see homeless people. What a sad state of affairs when a country that spends billions on a war that should not have been fought, can't even provide shelter and food to its own citizens.

Debbie,

Your story touches a raw, soft spot in my being. There is always food stashed in my car for those in need, human or dog or cat.

Thanks for writing this with a big heart.

I agree with Verie, you "saw" her and that is one of the most important things you can do. Recognition by another human being is vital to those who seem to get lost in the cracks of society. Excellent writing which shows a compassionate heart...we need more like you Debbie.

Well done Deb! It is good to read you again.

I always held it that the keen and compassionate eye is the necessary precondition for any true poet/writer - obviously, Deb, dear, you have it. Brilliantly written! ;-)

Love and hugs - S.

Quite interesting! Wonderfully written.

i'm not sure i can say anything that hasn't been said...but it's nice to see people thinking and talking about this issue. and it's wonderful to see you writing.

Mona, thank you. I appreciate that. As you know I'm self conscious about typos, and errors, and just sharing in general. :)

It's people like this that wander in our lives for mere moments but stay with us for much longer...

Reading this reaffirmed that I am so very thankful that we have met, Debbie...

Thank you for being a friend and for being you.

What a touching short story. Deb, here in Santa Barbara there are many homeless so this scene is one I'm pretty familiar with -thank you. You have a kind heart. Salud

Thanks for all the comments.
This title was intended to be read as a statement more than a question. For every one that paused, and did that, my special thanks.

many of us are closer to being homeless than not....being homeless doesn't define a person just like a job doesn't define a person....and yes,even a smile and a kind word or two goes a long way....

glad you showed compassion....glad to be connected to another who walks her talk ;>

cheers,gayle

What a sensitive and thought provoking piece ~ I love your style.