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Homeless People
Aug 28, 2022,19:14 PM
It’s just another day for you and me in paradise…sang Phil Collins.
Daily, I see wealthy people. I’m surrounded by them. I’m numbed by them. I am probably one of them. Is there more to life than buying the next watch, or car?
I didn’t want to find out too, but a homeless man just happened to approach me while I was walking my dogs.
My dog is trained as a guard dog, and will not hesitate to attack a stranger approaching quickly, especially if the person is wearing black and a cap. (The cost of training a guard dog can buy a submariner on the grey market)
But this time, she ran to the stranger like a puppy. Wagging her tail.
(I was wearing a decent watch under my long sleeves, and my luxury car was parked very nearby, and I think he saw my car. Anyone should flee…it is safer to do so.)
He said Hi to me and I said Hi. I told him I will try to help him, I never run from people because I am not afraid of anyone. I shook his dirty hand. It was so dirty it smelled like a toilet. It’s ok. I took my expensive ski jacket off and gave it to him. I could not bear to see someone shivering in the cold from being homeless. It felt good to help someone.
I sat down to talk to him for 5 minutes, and ended up talking to him for 2 hours. He told me his life story. Maybe, some of you can relate to it too. He was once pretty wealthy, but things took a catastrophic turn, when he descended into madness with schizophrenia. Lost his wife, house, car and company too. (I did a background check on him later, and he was not lying).
I went back in the pitch darkness that night to hand him some blankets, a good sturdy torch, and a backpack of essential items. He was very thankful. I didn’t give him cash because I do not know him fully. What if he take the cash for gambling or drugs. No cash, just resources he needs to survive.
Makes me wonder how fragile life really is. Wealth, health, fame, careers can be temporary. One day we have it, another day it can disappear. What remains of a man after that?
He called me today, for food and his phone ran out of battery. I waited for him at the place I told him I’d be. I stood there waiting for 15 minutes and he didn’t show up. I drove around to search for him to no avail.
It’s moments like that, that make me think really really hard. I am not God, or immune to homelessness. It may strike me one day too.
Money does not make me happy at all - Unless I can share it with those who need it more than I do. Time is not very costly to me either, so I’m happy to spend time on people who need a listening ear.
Photo Credit: The Guardian