(This post was last modified: 03-22-2017, 05:28 AM by KAV.)
People who know me from other forum follies know I was active assembling shaving kit for several homeless vets with many generous donations; said category not that far from my own circumstances. I encountered two gentleman- and they deserve said title today, met earlier in warmer days. Roy and Jack are 60 something like me; Jack wheelchair bound. We kept crossing paths, literally as I do a lot of walking. I had packed another two 55Gal trash bags full of recyclables the 30 minutes military pace in a light rain and entered the market to redeem my voucher. First order of business was to do my business and OMG the door was locked. I did some yoga leg crossing to keep THAT chakra from releasing energy. I finally lost all decorum and knocked.
Door opened, and Roy and Jack were inside shaving and taking impromptu spit baths. Their clothing was soaked. I met them back outside with a gift of roast chicken and rolls, hot coffees and some quarters for the nearby laundromat. I knew they would desperately need to wash and dry their 'layered look.' I found out this style is affected as much for armor from physical assault and knifings. Jack owns a older PUMA straight and his strop is a leather belt with toothpaste as medium. They manage a pretty thin gruel from dispenser soap. That straight is also his defensive carry' deeply hidden but accessable while Roy packs an old kitchen knife.
I left them at the laundromat having lunch and walked home, grabbed some soaps and one remaining synthetic brush donation, turned around and found them just wheeling out the laundromat. The irony, they paid more attention to their hygiene and clothing than most of the folks I saw. Personal
appearance and cleanliness is actually one of the biggest shames homeless must endure. We walked together down to a vehicle storage lot where I know the owner. There's an older RV, apparently abandoned with a blown engine and he's waiting to get a 'pinkslip' from the DMV. I negotiated the last of my ill gotten gains to let them stay there a few days and warm up. I walked home, by now staggering like a legionaire trying to make Fort Zinderhoff.
Now I have to hustle cash again to fullfill some overdue obligations. But I'm dry, fed and showered with hot water.
We have it good folks. I stole a decent straight for all of $2 from a nearby garage sale a few days past. Jack said to visit. He wil show me how to use the thing without slitting my throat.
Door opened, and Roy and Jack were inside shaving and taking impromptu spit baths. Their clothing was soaked. I met them back outside with a gift of roast chicken and rolls, hot coffees and some quarters for the nearby laundromat. I knew they would desperately need to wash and dry their 'layered look.' I found out this style is affected as much for armor from physical assault and knifings. Jack owns a older PUMA straight and his strop is a leather belt with toothpaste as medium. They manage a pretty thin gruel from dispenser soap. That straight is also his defensive carry' deeply hidden but accessable while Roy packs an old kitchen knife.
I left them at the laundromat having lunch and walked home, grabbed some soaps and one remaining synthetic brush donation, turned around and found them just wheeling out the laundromat. The irony, they paid more attention to their hygiene and clothing than most of the folks I saw. Personal
appearance and cleanliness is actually one of the biggest shames homeless must endure. We walked together down to a vehicle storage lot where I know the owner. There's an older RV, apparently abandoned with a blown engine and he's waiting to get a 'pinkslip' from the DMV. I negotiated the last of my ill gotten gains to let them stay there a few days and warm up. I walked home, by now staggering like a legionaire trying to make Fort Zinderhoff.
Now I have to hustle cash again to fullfill some overdue obligations. But I'm dry, fed and showered with hot water.
We have it good folks. I stole a decent straight for all of $2 from a nearby garage sale a few days past. Jack said to visit. He wil show me how to use the thing without slitting my throat.