Have you ever seen the homeless man in town? He likes to hang out at the parks, collecting things and pulling his shopping cart of stuff. I sometimes run at the park he's at and always say hello. He is friendly and always greets me back, but I wonder what goes on in his daily life. What does he do during the day? What is really in his cart? Why is he homeless?
Well, today I finally got the oil changed in my car and while I was waiting for my roommate to pick me up so I could leave the car for them, I noticed the homeless man across the street. He was at an apartment complex not far from the park, dumpster diving. He pulled out what looked like the end of a black broom but then seemed dissatisfied with it and tossed it back. He even had some kind of long metal rod device to help him acquire things from the dumpster. (I know from experience that those things can be quite deep and treacherous...but that's another story)
Anyway, I watched him for about five more minutes (I was inside so he couldn't see me staring at him through the tinted glass), as he then pulled his cart up to the entrance of Walgreen's. Then he went inside. I wondered what he must be shopping for...what money he had...what the cashier and customers thought of him. Could they tell he was homeless? He had a shiny new pair of white sneakers on but other than that, looked a little shabby.
My roommate pulled up then and I lost sight of him, but I often wonder what it would be like to be homeless. What if I had an actual conversation with him and wasn't scared as I am? Not of him...but just as a woman. I wish I could ask him...its such a different life.
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