I've seen him around for a few months. He is unkempt, unshaven, gray haired, and slightly bent over with the burden of existence. He is accompanied by three dogs. Other than his canine compatriots, he isn't unlike so many others, standing at intersections with signs .. signs imploring passing motorists to help. He is one of "them" .. that growing group of disenfranchised citizens .. and "we" are those who pass them by on a daily basis. It's so easy to pull up next to "them" as they stand on sidewalks with cardboard pleas, purposefully not making eye contact. It's so easy to ignore, negate, and objectify their very existence. After all, they could get a job like "us" if they weren't hooked on drugs or being completely lazy, couldn't they? In fact, isn't it truthful that most of "us" don't give them anything under the clever guise of not contributing to their drug addictions or monetary scams? I'm shamefully guilty of utilizing those despicable excuses. As "we" continue to justify our lack of empathy with these inhumane beliefs, "they" are sadly castigated from "our" world .. relegated to the underpasses "we" happily drive upon, not concerned in any manner with the circumstances of "their" daily existence.
Two nights ago I sat in the car outside Darlene's workplace, waiting to bring her home after she finished work. As always, I had some great jazz playing on the radio and occasionally turned on the heater because it was just a little too cool for comfort in my shorts and flip-flops. This is a time I savor .. ten thirty at night, totally quiet, and perfect for contemplating gifts of life which seem to be culminating as I work on my "Self". The restaurant she occupies on a part-time basis sits in a small shopping mall. Late at night the mall is silent, with possibly one or two cars awaiting their occupants to finish enjoying a nice hot meal in the restaurant. Normally busy roads have but a trickle of traffic .. seemingly soft and gentle as few vehicles pass by. It is a rare time of peace in a normally bustling area.
As I was waiting, enjoying the comfort of my car, listening to fantastic jazz, I noticed movement at the far end of the shopping center. It was him .. the man with three dogs. He was methodically going through every trash receptacle on the sidewalk. Every once in awhile he found something his babies could eat, carefully broke it into three pieces and distributed the nourishment to obviously hungry mouths. That they adored this broken man was never in question .. I saw it .. I felt it. He worked his way towards my parking spot and the spectacle before me gained more and more clarity as he approached. Not once did he take a bite of food. His actions brought this man to tears. When he found a plastic cup with a lid on it, he removed the lid and drank what liquid remained. On two occasions he found cups on concrete ledges above the trash cans. On both of these "finds" he carefully replaced the cups exactly as found. Never did he throw anything on the ground .. in fact, he picked up several pieces of litter and placed them in the trash cans .. litter most likely thrown by one of "us".
I won't bore you completely with the myriad of thoughts which bombarded my mind as I sat there watching, crying, awakening .. but I must share one thought with you .. No man, woman, or child should be allowed to live like that .. none. I no longer care why "they" are on the corner. That "they" have humbled and humiliated themselves to this point of pleading with "us" for help is now all I need. If I can provide even one moment of happiness, I will do it. Gone are those justifications for turning my head the other way.
When Darlene came from the building, we searched for Dog Man, found him, asked him to please wait for us, went to the store, grabbed a gallon of clean water and some solid nourishment for this beautiful human and his loving friends ...
... because
"they" are "us"
"they" are "us"
Facker
February 8, 2019
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