Yesterday on my way to an appointment I exited the freeway at the 46th street exit. This exit is pretty famous for its ongoing line of beggars who will stand and hold a sign in hopes of some money. I'm not sure if it is the large, very wealthy church just a block or two away, or that it is just far enough outside the downtown area, yet still on a good busline to make it a safe spot, but it is a place where you can routinely teach your child about the downtrodden if you so choose.
When Andrew is in the car, we usually will pass a few dollars out the window. This is really a weak response to someone in need, and I'm never happy after the fact.
Yesterday the light was red as I came off the exit and so I was several car lengths back from the person who had claimed the corner this day. As I waited for the light to change I was struck by his sign: First of all, Absolute Desolation is a slightly more elevated sign than what I normally see. Secondly, the handwriting was very neat and everything was spelled correctly.
As we moved forward with the light change I noticed two more things: this man was young, probably only 20 or 21, the age of my son Jason. He was very good looking and didn't have that hollowed out look of a junkie. And then the kick in the gut: He was crying. Honestly, I've never seen anything so heart rending in my life. Think of Will in Pirates of the Caribbean standing beside the road holding up a sign of complete humiliation and surrender, eyes red, tears streaming down his face.
Of course I was already in a down mood. The fires in California are hitting home as the affect so many of my new found online friends.
Sometimes this world is just a very sad place.
I hope someone came along and did more for that young man than I did.
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