We're basically in the quiet part of the suburbs. It's not run down much and it's concidered a nice neighborhood. I haven't seen any homeless people around here. They have all been in the city. I sneak over by the river off the beaten trail to allow myself to release my tears and let the river take my pain away for a while. This past Saturday I noticed a make shift tent. It was a bunch of branches lying on a tree leaning over like a shelter. Leaning against the branches was an old window. Under that was some old clothes. I thought to myself, "Man, that was smart using a window as a shelter". Around there was a sign of a small camp fire. From the looks of it, they/he are living there fishing for food.
Now, I know that there are some homeless people that are on drugs and caused this to happen but I also know that there are good people that found themselves in a bad place. If my ex lost his job, I have no skills (at the moment) to keep my apartment. Sure I'll have a degree by next year, but what if he lost his job today? I don't have family or friends that I could depend on because of the JW crap that's going on. I would probably do exactly what he's doing. I'm not afraid of losing my place because I was taught how to survive in the "wild" by my grandfather if I had too. And the last thing I'd do would go to a "shelter" because there are way too many bad things that happen there as well as being told when and what to do. I don't think I could live the "shelter" way.
I thought about writing on the rock (my son calls it "rock-a-chalk") with the $10. and a knitted blanket for this poor soul. My thoughts are on the homeless person constantly and I think it's because he's basically in my back yard. I think I've passed him several times on the trail. If it's the same person, he's a kind soul, minding his own business, looking for the best place to fish. He carries a big bag around with him. Not the kind of bag you see on TV with a NY scene on. It looked like a big brown "tote" bag. It had a small fishing pole sticking out of it. He looked beatened from the life experience. He was lost on the trail (easy to do since it's about 15 miles long with many "sideroads"). He asked me how to get back to the trail (the one that was close to my apartment). I told him, he wished me a good day and started wondering off. He looked like he was in his 60's. I just feel so bad for him.