sort of a cool thing

[gayathri]

On sunday, while wheeling my bicycle over to my car, I remembered that the trunk had a couple of bags of cans and bottles from my lack of recycling. Its not easy to recycle in Los Angeles, as we dont seperate our trash at home, and there is a dearth of places to take cans and stuff to...

but just as I was getting to my car, a guy with a shopping cart full of cans and bottles comes by and looks in the local trash cans. I say to him, "Hey! Mister, I got a bag or two of cans in my car, you want them?"

and he looks surprised. Homeless people often seem surprised when someone talks to them. He sez, "Sure," and I point to the car. We get to the car and the sales guy who was helping me comes out, looking a little concerned (apparently thought the homeless guy was bothering me)

I tell the salesguy what I'm doing, and he holds my bicycle while I get the bags of cans for the homeless guy. I tell him I'm sorry, I usually have granola bars too, but if he was thirsty, I had some full bottles of water. He told me, "No thanks, but you should really get a nice lock for that new bicycle, I see them get stolen all the time,"

Then he sez, "I dont want to lie to you, I'm going to buy beer with this money," and I said, "I know, I'm going to have a beer when I get home too, tho I hope you have something to eat as well,"

he told me he would and walked away. The sales guy said, "That was nice of you," and I said, "But for the grace of God, go I,"

Maybe its not right to encourage someone's illness, but the song by LazyBoy, "Underwear goes inside the pants"

We're in one of the richest countries in the world,
but the minimum wage is lower than it was thirty five years ago.
There are homeless people everywhere.
This homeless guy asked me for money the other day.
I was about to give it to him and then I thought he was going to use it on drugs or alcohol.
And then I thought, that's what I'm going to use it on.
Why am I judging this poor bastard?
People love to judge homeless guys. Like if you give them money they're just going to waste it.
Well, he lives in a box, what do you want him to do? Save it up and buy a wall unit?
Take a little run to the store for a throw rug and a CD rack? He's homeless.

I kinda think to myself too, "who am I to judge this man?" I felt really fortunate he came along to take care of my _trash_. On my way home, I picked up a case of granola bars to go with the case of water I have in my car for my 'usual' homeless guy.





Some links for local help that I think are really great -- mrsgravesgood and I are definately going to plan a Hygiene Kit Drive -- maybe another cocktail party! :) and I found a Virtual Food Drive from the very awesome Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Comments

[lil-brown-bat.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists, very much on the same subject:

I pay for all the stuff and get a pocketful of change
Should I give it to the mans the question in my brain
What's gonna happen if I give the man a dime?
I don't wanna pay for anotha brotha's wine
What's gonna happen if I give the man a quarter?
Will he find a dealer and try to place an order?
What's gonna happen if I give the man a nickel
Will he buy some food or some pork that's been pickled?

Like a lot of Michael Franti's songs, it's partly about Big Issues, but also more than a bit wryly self-mocking, like: why do I feel I have to judge this situation? Yeah, it's my change, but if I feel that having a bit of change that he doesn't makes me qualified to subject his life to a scrutiny that I don't cast on my own life...no, uh uh. Isn't it interesting in your case that a non-scrutinizing attitude got truth in return?

[agentaeonfiux.livejournal.com]

You're a good woman :)

I like to do stuff like that when I can.

The last time I had a chance to help somebody, I gave a bum my umbrella at a freeway offramp where he was sitting in his rain-soaked clothes, begging for money.

I need to things like that more often, It's good for the soul.

[mr-bear-paws.livejournal.com]

You are so awesome!

I'm know I'm lucky to have you as a friend in my life and the world needs more people like you.

You help me realize things happen for a reason and there can be good even in the bad things and events in our lives. Look at the people and circumstances that led to us meeting each other.

*mmmuuaaahhh*

[mrsgravegoods.livejournal.com]

You did good, I think. Regardless of what he used the money for, you showed him kindness, treated him like a human being. Maybe that moment will stick in his brain and give him courage and hope when he is ready to try slaying his dragons.