"Sometimes Jesus Christ gives you such a blessing."

[InternalDialogue]

I took a bag of trash and some cans to the alley this morning, trash in the dumpster, cans in the recycling bin. As I turned an older man shuffled toward me with his backpack dangling from a shoulder and several days of beard looking scraggly on his chin.

"Anything good in there?" he asked me.

"In the dumpster? Nope, mostly empty."

He shrugged and said, "Sometimes the Lord just gives you a gift. Not last night, though. The cops, they ripped my backpack off me, tore all the zippers. I've got it wired together, but it just pissed me off."

He turned to show me the backpack, which indeed looked like a sort of Frankenstein's monster of canvas -- wires held the accessory pouches to the main bag, while other lines of wire looped through the canvas to hold the pockets closed.

I told him that sucked, and that I hoped he could find a new pack soon. He turned to walk away but then spun as if he'd just thought of something.

"I was sleeping in one of these once," he said, gesturing to the dumpster. "Some lady dumped five cases of beer on me."

"Unopened cans?" I asked.

"Yeah, and it was good beer, too. Sometimes Jesus Christ gives you such a blessing."

And he laughed and walked away.

[Crazy Dave]

1. Poor guy

Why would the cops do such a thing? Bullying out of boredom?

[InternalDialogue]

2. I'm guessing they were rousting him from a sleeping spot.

Maybe he was drunk or they took him for a drunk and the bag was the most efficient handle.

He didn't seem too fazed, just a bit miffed.

And he was still hopeful and smiling. I guess you never know which dumpster is going to bestow a gift.

Bittersweet.

[Crazy Dave]

3. If he comes by the same one regularly...

Maybe you could leave an old bag or pack, some food and an old blanket "from God" for him

[InternalDialogue]

4. It's the first time I've seen him, though we've got a pretty robust set of regulars.

Sometimes the dumpster area is a regular flea market of merchandise. If I had a backpack to give, I'd certainly keep an eye out for him again.

[Crazy Dave]

5. Good deal

It's starting to get cold and I worry about the homeless. This year I'll have more time to donate than finances to the cause. I'm struggling to keep the roof I got over mine right now.

[hamsterjill]

6. Isn't that the truth!

I feel sorry for the homeless at all times, but I particularly think of them on cold nights. I help with what I can, but I sure wish I could do a lot more.

[InternalDialogue]

7. I'll always remember this thread from BleedingHeartPatriot a couple years ago.

Especially at this time of year, when snow starts to become a probability.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2960925&mesg_id=2960925