Missing Man
Last Friday, as I was driving home, I passed a shopping cart that had been toppled over on a grassy knoll, it’s contents scattered on the grass. There were paper cups, torn and soiled articles of clothing, half-empty water bottles, newspapers, shoes, and books.
This shopping cart belonged to a well known homeless guy who frequented this area. I’ve seen him begging for change at stop lights. His sign read: “Please help. Homeless. Harmless. Unemployable. Just want a good meal.”
And yes, I did pass him a fin a couple of times as I sat idle at the light (“Thank you, sir. You just helped me get through another night,” he said to me). He never approached cars trying to push his situation on others. He just stood there. Smiling. And, I’m not sure if it was a trick of the light, but he often appeared as if he considered himself above his current situation. Content. Happy to just be getting by.
Sure, I was probably reading a bit too much into it. But it worked. Heck, he got me to cough up some cash for his cause, and I’m far from a bleeding heart.
And there, four days later, his upturned cart still rests on the hill. His earthly treasures blowing in the wind.
I wonder what happened to him.
I’m curious if anyone else is wondering as well?
Anyway, no nifty picture today. Just wanted to pass on a random thought in this post.
There could be loads of reasons for his absence but it would be nice to think the guy’s luck changed and he was away somewhere in a warm room with food on his plate.
In would wonder, too.
*I* would wonder. You speak Typonese, don’t you?
” Heck, he got me to cough up some cash for his cause, and I’m far from a bleeding heart.”
Me too, because I live in a city where you see way too many people doing this for drugs (and it’s so evident). However, there are times when I will give if I feel moved to do so – like you. There is a guy that frequents the area that I live, and there is just something about him that pulls at my heart to share with him.
As Valerie said, it would be nice to to think the guy’s luck changed and was somewhere in a warm room with food on his plate
I hope that he’s okay.
Homeless. Harmless. Unemployable.
What the hell. I’d give him a buck or two, too. We have those people in Mpls, too…
I hope he ate. And I hope he got warm.
Pearl
Rather ominous, although I do tend toward pessimism when it comes to homeless anything.
I’ll hope like the rest that he had some good luck, not bad.
Oh, how sad and disturbing! I would wonder, too.
We had a homeless guy here, quite famous he was, for a while, and like you I gave him a pound or two now and then. He lived in a roadside bus shelter, where he ranged all his worldly goods around him; bin liners full of stuff, a sleeping bag or three, some food and drink given to him by well-wishers – even a set of golf clubs at one time! He was known to all as ‘Nobby’, and when the council wanted to evict him from his shelter, the local people rallied in his defence and he was allowed to stay.
He’s not there now. He got older, the social services got worried about his health, and a couple of winters ago it was reported in the local paper that they had persuaded him into an old folks’ facility. He’d been in one before and left after the worst of the weather was over, but I guess this time he stayed.
I can only hope and pray that something like that happened to your man.
Yeah. The image of his upturned cart is still bouncing around in my head. It’s funny what sticks with us…
Hey, at least the state took care of him and didn’t let him die on the street! Thumbs up for that. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a roof over their head.
What the…? I can’t understand what you’re saying with that accent.
*Oh* Now I get ya. Thanks for clearing that up!
I would imagine that in the city you see these guys all the time. That’s not the case where I am. Sure, you’ll see ‘em downtown, but not up north. Guess these guys are now migrating out of the city!
Yeah, some guys have no luck. Or skills. Or education. Or lack of a criminal record. But man, to let a guy starve….that’s rough.
Yeah, I can’t help but think about his cart, and where he is right now. It’s weird what bounces around in my head sometimes…
I would be wondering too. Hope nothing too terrible happened… maybe someone helped get him into a shelter? You were kind to give him a little money for food.