Run John, Run

John was a 20 year heroin addict. Even so, he was extremely smart.  He read the papers daily, was politically astute, and knew jewelers and doctors in town.  He knew which ones were addicted as he was their runner.  Others were as well.  This is not an unusual set up; homeless as drug runners.  The doctors, jewelers, and other business folks can't afford to get caught so they would hire John.  

John eventually got tired of the street life and his body was paying the price. He decided to go clean.  Since heroin detox does not require a hospital and since John had no insurance we had little choice but to detox him in a shelter.  Myself and several other outreach workers would visit him everyday; change his dirty sheets, bring him coffee and Pedialyte, convince him to bathe, and clean his bedding again. 

John detoxed and stayed clean.  It was pretty amazing to watch him go from a scrawny addict bent over in pain to a rolly pollie Santa Clause.  This happens with  a lot of addicts  Coming off drugs and eating regularly adds weight quickly.  

We moved John from the shelter where he detoxed to a shelter near a college that had a running field.  We connected with some college students and they agreed to befriend John and start walking with him to see if he could shed some weight.  Like John, they were adults, and also like John they could talk a blue streak about anything.  It seemed a perfect match.  

John came into my office and one day and I told him about the students and asked if he wanted to start walking the track.  John looked all serious as I was telling him and when I finished he stood up and yelled "I thought you liked me".  "I do John", I said.  "Then why are you trying to kill me?"  Though I tried not to laugh I did not understand where this conversation was going.  John continued to look at me with rage and asked me again if I really did like him.  "Then why are you trying to kill me with that third rail?  That third rail will kill me!"  

By now I could not contain my laughter and John just got angrier.  I eventually explained that I was suggesting he walk the running track at the college not the train tracks or subway tracks.  He didn't get it and still thought I was trying to kill him and was angry but also hurt as he thought I liked him.  I brought in a co-worker to try and explain (also to share in this funny encounter) and he did not succeed either.  Now John thought that two of us were trying to do him in.  We added another co-worker and the same thing happened and now three of us were on the floor in tears and poor John, well,  he just got disillusioned.  

Eventually John did understand and when he finally did he just got mad at us for laughing.  Still he remained clean and sober, got healthier, and eventually forgave us.  To this day I still laugh every time I pass a running track, subway, or train station.  I don't see John anymore but I remember him fondly.  Now you can too.   

Meet Ed

This is Ed.  He is an extremely remarkable man.  He is bright and talented, honest and hard working.  He cares deeply.  He will be leaving the shelter soon and he will be missed.  He will be moving clear across the country and anyone that gets to meet him will be lucky.  I can say more but the remainder of this post is his own writing.  You will see that what I say is true and hopefully you will look out for him.

Take a glance, see the mural on America’s wall...of the families homeless on the outskirts of a mall.  Picture Busy streets , congested highways there - a man standing with a beggar’s sign, traffic constantly streams along.  No one will stop because most don’t care.  Goliath office buildings dwarf the city, vendors dress store windows with manne-quins  that show no pity, while on the heat vent just outside a mildew aroma arises from a sleeping guy.  Sympathy, like a stain on the ground in a subway tunnel where he used to lie down. Low tide at the river- a short reprieve for a family of five in a small tent city.  All casualties of a big bank charade like a maze of foreclosures blotting out family days. Elegant dinners for CEO’s politely ignoring the beggar which no body knows, using taxpayer money to chase him away with the help of a cop working ten hour days...Not a picture serene where a wing slightly blows, a sweet smell of lilac or the scent of a rose, it’s no picnic like yours cause they sleep in the parks, in America’s closets, they sleep in the 

Walking Away(from homelessness and other things)

It is possible to walk away from homelessness.  Just ask Chris, he did.  At the time he walked away he would not let me photograph his face but he did let me photograph his back, so, here he is... walking away.  After he walked away the next time I saw Chris' face was when he emailed photographs of himself from the Appalachian Trail.  He was smiling big then.  Hiking the trail was his big dream, his plan, and he did it.!  It was great to get those pictures.  He didn't like the shelter but seeing it was winter and one with a lot of snow there weren't many other options for Chris; so he planned, he saved, and he left.  

I wish more people would do that... walk away from what they don't like.  I also wish they would do it like Chris did, plan and make a move.  By doing it that way you are walking towards something and not just away from something.  By not doing it and staying where there is no happiness whatever happiness is found in other areas tends to diminish as well.    

Welcome to An Abundance of Basics

Simply stated, an abundance of basics  makes for a happy life by allowing us to connect with one another and to share.  The basics needed in abundance, according to a formerly homeless man, include:

1. enough socks to change them everyday and to still have a clean pair on when it is time to do the laundry
2. enough underwear to change everyday without having to hand wash them in between laundry days especially if a dryer is lacking and they become stiff
3. clean sheets and blankets sufficient for warmth so you/we can get a good night’s sleep and not feel the pain of the cold.  Without this our minds will play tricks on us.  
4. enough soap, deodorant, cologne or perfume so we don’t repel people away.  We all need each other. 
5. A 10” black and white television set so we can be aware of what is going on in the world (cable is not necessary and a 10” black and white probably won’t get it anyway).
6. a decent pair of shoes,  along with the socks they protect the body’s tires so you can get where you need to be.  
7. the ability to shower or bathe
8. some spare change to see an occasional movie with friends or even alone as movies, if good, stretch the imagination, inspire creativity, challenge beliefs, and allow us to travel places and ideas new to us. 
9. Food, of course, but you can get a decent meal from a trash can; there is an abundance of waste in that area.  
10. Friends, family, or others that care as this world is too complex to navigate alone. 

The above list came out of the man’s response to two questions: 1) What was the happiest time in your life, and 2) what is your goal for the future?  His happiest time was when he was released from prison and had all those things.  His goal for the future was to have a store where he could sell those things and earn enough to be able to give them to those without them so they too could be happy.  Though he never used the term “an abundance of basics” in his response, it certainly was what he was implying.  

Sadly,  for the millions that are homeless on the streets, in shelters, or about too become homeless these basics are lacking and asking for them may cause someone to be viewed as greedy or selfish.