The Homeless Guy

Whenever I'm training at a local spot, sometimes I see the well-known homeless guy of my city: longer, dirty-blond hair always covered up by a black hat except for the few times he takes it off to shake out the grungy mane atop his head; a dark green coat that always look much too heavy; and beige khaki pants that seem to have been used to clean chimneys, followed up by brown construction boots.

Whenever I am fortunate enough to see him, I run up to him and give him something to eat. Usually it's whatever I have on me, which tends to be something smaller because it's just a training snack, maybe fruit snacks or a fruit bar.

I remember seeing him walking on the sidewalk one hot summer day, with blue sky, yellow sun, and his enormous jacket, while I was working at the pizza place. I ran outside and told him to hold on a just a few minutes - I'd be right back with some bread. I put the garlic bread in the oven and waited. I was a little nervous because I remember it took longer than I thought and I was hoping he wouldn't just leave because he thought I was playing a trick on him! That would have been horrible.

The bread was finally done, I grabbed it, ran outside and gave it to him. As usual, he looked at it and kind of grumbled, I said, "No problem, man. Enjoy." And we both went out ways. That's the way the meetings always went - he would grumble, and I would say, "Yeah, no problem man. Enjoy."

I remember one time, I had next to me in the passenger seat, a full bag of trail mix with dried fruit I just purchased the day before from a grocery store. I was driving down the road and I saw the man next to a store, heading in the other direction. I decided to turn around and find him. When I did - he had disappeared! I noticed there were trees next to the shop we were by and I realized what he had been doing. I drove by and turned back around, but there he was again, on the sidewalk. I pulled over and got out of my car, and called him. I handed him the bag and said, "Hey man, here, do you like stuff?" He grabbed the bag and kind of looked at it. I continued, "You can have it. I didn't mess with it I just bought it and opened it today."

I always kind of feel weird and regret it a little asking him if he likes something or not - how the hell should he know? Kind of ignorant on my part, but I'm just trying to be conversational, letting him know I'm not afraid or ashamed of him.

He replied with a surprisingly smoother voice than I expected, "Okay, yeah. Thanks." And he walked off. I got back in my car and drove away. I was smiling the whole time because I realized he said "thanks"! I was so happy! I actually made him a have somewhat of a conversation! Human interaction. Politeness. All good energy. I loved it.

This has been happening over a few years now, I'd say about 4. I still see him all the time and I've just thought to myself, "Will he realize that I am gone?" What will he think if I don't randomly show up and give him food anymore? Maybe he won't think anything at all, actually. All I know is, that when I'm travelling the world, I will always be thinking of him and how, though I am helping others across the world, there are those who need help here, as well.

I hope he doesn't think I have abandoned him or forgot him, I hope he doesn't think I don't care about him anymore. Maybe one day, years from now, I'll come back and stop him and say, "Hey, man, this is for you." Maybe next time we'll make eye contact.